She was answered with a little ringing laugh, not unkindly but amused; and then her friend said gravely—
"Your taking a glass of cordial in this house would not affect anything or anybody, little one. It would do me no harm. I drink a glass of wine every day with my dinner. I shall go on doing it just the same. It will not make a bit of difference to me, whether you take your cordial or not."
But Matilda looked at the lady, and did not look at her glass.
"Do you think it will?" said the lady, laughing.
"No, ma'am."
"Then your promise to help temperance work does not touch the cordial."
"No ma'am, but——"
"But?—what 'but'?"
"It touches me."
"Does it?" said the lady. "That is odd. You think a promise is a promise. Here is your sister taking her cordial; she has not made the same promise, I suppose?"