Produced by Daniel Fromont. HTML version by Al Haines. [Transcriber's note: This is the first of a series of four novels by Susan Warner, all of which are in the Project Gutenberg collection: 1. What She Could 2. Opportunities 3. The House in Town 4. Trading] WHAT SHE COULD. BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE WIDE WIDE WORLD," &c. LONDON: JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET. MDCCCLXXI. "WHAT SHE COULD." CHAPTER I. "Girls, there's a Band!" "A what?" "A Band--in the Sunday-School." "I am sure there is a careless girl in the house," put in another speaker. "Go and wipe your feet, Maria; look at the snow you have brought in." "But, mamma----" "Go and get rid of that snow before you say another word. And you too, Matilda; see, child, what lumps of snow are sticking to your shoes. Was there no mat at the door?" "There was a cold wind there," muttered Maria, as she went to obey orders. "What harm does a little snow do?" But while she went to the door again, her sister, a pretty, delicate child of fewer years, stood still, and adroitly slipped her feet out of the snowy shoes she had brought in, which she put in the corner of the fireplace to thaw and dry off; the little stocking feet standing comfortably on the rug before the blaze. It was so neatly done, the mother and elder sisters looked on and could not chide. Neatness suited the place. The room was full of warm comfort; the furniture in nice order; the work, several kinds of which were in as many hands, though lying about also on chairs and tables, had yet the look of order and method. You would have said at once that there was something good in the family. The child in front of the fire told more for it. Her delicate features, the refined look and manner with which she stood there in her uncovered feet, even a little sort of fastidious grace which one or two movements testified, drew the eyes of mother and sisters, and manifestly stopped their tongues; even called forth a smile or two. "What is all this Maria is talking about, Matilda?" "Why, we have been to the Sunday-School meeting, mamma." "I know that; and it was not a night fit for you to go. What ever possessed you and Maria?" remarked one of the sisters. "Why, Mr. Richmond wanted to see all the Sunday-School," said Matilda, thoughtfully. "He wanted you too, I suppose; and you were not there." "There is no use in having a meeting such a night. Of course, a great many people could not be there. It ought to have been put off." "Well, it was not put off," said Matilda. "What did he want? What was Maria talking about?" "She is the best one to ask," said the child. At the same moment Maria came in from getting rid of the snow, and enquired if Tilly had told them everything? Finding all was right, she sat down contentedly before the fire and stretched out her feet towards it. "We've had a splendid time, I can tell you," she began.