"Don't you? Well,—all the people that Mr. Richmond has the care of, I suppose; isn't it, sister?"
"But who has he the care of?" Matilda persisted, looking up at her mother earnestly.
"Well, child," said Mrs. Englefield, half laughing, "in a sort, he has the care of all the people he preaches to."
"Does he?" said Matilda. But at that the laugh became general.
"Why not, Tilly?" said Mrs. Candy.
"Who gave him the care of us?" said Matilda, thoughtfully.
"A minister always has the care of a church when he has a church," said Mrs. Candy. "Is this Tilly's way of going into things in general, Marianne?"
"But," said Matilda,—"can anybody take a church and take care of people, if he has a mind?"
"No; only a man who has been properly educated and appointed."
"Then how comes he to have the care of us?"