Yes, I was going to say that I asked mamma
if I might not leave the writing ; but mamma said,
" On no account ; what would then become of this
Saturday ? You would have one too few in the
year ; do not think of such a thing as to put one
Saturday into your pocket."

" Very well," said I ; " then I will run away
and do it at once, so that it may soon be over."
I must say, however, that I have to provide all
the soap for my washing. I once asked mamma
for soap, but she said, " No, my darling, that
won't do ; every one must look after their own
housekeeping ; when you grow up you could not
go to your neighbour's house to beg for soap. It
is just as well to learn early that one must sup-
port oneself." I keep a little account-book, and
"twopence for soap" occurs pretty often in it.
That is a great deal of money I I complained



38 THE DIARY OF

about it to mamma, but she said, ** Yes, children
are always very expensive!" I laughed very
heartily at that.
