"Mamma, there are reasons against all that; you do not understand," said Norton.
"It's very hard to say," Matilda spoke at length, rousing herself; for her head had gone down on Mrs. Laval's lap. "May I say exactly what I do mean?"
"Certainly; and Norton shall not interrupt you."
"I don't want to interrupt her," said Norton. "It is as good as a book."
Matilda slipped off her cushion and kneeling on the rug, with her hands still on Mrs. Laval's lap, looked off into the fire.
"The Bible says"--she began and checked herself. The Bible was not such authority there. "I was only thinking--Ma'am, you know how many poor people there are in the world?"
"People that have no overcoats at all, nor under coats neither, some of them. I was thinking--if _all_ the people who have plenty, would give half to the people who have nothing, there would be nobody cold or miserable; I mean, miserable from _that_."
"Yes, there would, my darling," said Mrs. Laval. "People who are idle and wicked, and won't work and do not take care of what they have, they would be poor if we were to give them, not half but three quarters, of all we have. It would be all gone in a week or two; or a month or two."
Matilda looked at Mrs. Laval. "But the poor people are not always wicked?"
"Very often. Industrious and honest people need never suffer."
That would alter the case, Matilda thought. She sat back on her cushion again and laid her head down as before. But then, what meant the Bible words; "He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise"? The Bible could not be mistaken. Matilda was puzzled with the difficult question; and presently the warm fire and her thoughts together were too much for her. The eyelids drooped over her eyes; she was asleep. Mrs. Laval made a sign to Norton to keep quiet. Her own fingers touched tenderly the soft brown locks of the head which lay on her lap; but too softly to disturb the sleeper.
"Mamma," said Norton softly, "isn't she a darling?"
"Hush!" said Mrs. Laval. "Don't wake her."
"She is perfectly fast asleep," said Norton. "She don't sham sleeping any more than awake. Mamma, how will grandmamma like her?"
"Aunt Judy won't," said Norton. "But mamma, she is twenty times prettier than Judith Bartholomew."