Now Matilda had her own notions about things she liked and things shedid not like to do; and one of the things she did not like to do was toroughen or soil her hands. To put her little hands into the pan ofwater, and handle and pare the coarse roots with the soil hanging tothem, was very distasteful to her nicety. She looked a little dismayed.But there were the roots all to be pared and washed, and Maria wouldhave her hands full; and was not this also work given to Matilda to do?At any rate, she felt that she could not refuse without losinginfluence over Maria, and that she could not afford. So Matilda's handsand her knife went into the pan. She thought it was very disagreeable,but she did it. After the potatoes and turnips were ready for the pot,Maria demanded her help about other things; she must clean the knives,and set the table, and prepare the celery and rub the apples; whileMaria kept up the fire, and attended to the cookery. Matilda did onething after another; her weary little feet travelled out and in, fromone room to the other room, and got things in order for dinner in bothplaces.
It was a pretty satisfactory dinner, on the whole. The mutton was wellcooked and the vegetables were not bad, Mrs. Candy said; but Matildathought with dismay of the after dinner dishes. However, dinner givescourage sometimes; and both she and Maria were stronger-hearted whenthey rose from table than when they had sat down. Dishes, and pots, andkettles, and knives, and endless details beside, were in course of timegot rid of; and then Matilda put on her hat and cloak, and set forth onan errand she had been meditating.