She paused, and turned partly towards me, as I said this.  Then she moved off, with something so sad in her manner, that I was touched sensibly.

“I ought to have paid her this morning, when I had the change about me.  And I wish I had done so.  Why didn’t she ask for her money, if she wanted it so badly?”

I felt, of course, rather ill at ease.  A little while afterwards I met the lady with whom I was boarding.

“Do you know anything about this Mrs. Blake, who washes for me?” I inquired.

“Not much; except that she is very poor, and has three children to feed and clothe.  And what is worst of all, she is in bad health.  I think she told me, this morning, that one of her little ones was very sick.”

I was smitten with a feeling of self-condemnation, and soon after left the room.  It was too late to remedy the evil, for I had only a sixpence in my pocket; and, moreover, did not know where to find Mrs. Blake.

Having purposed to make a call upon some young ladies that evening, I now went up into my room to dress.  Upon my bed lay the spotless linen brought home by Mrs. Blake in the morning.  The sight of it rebuked me; and I had to conquer, with some force, an instinctive reluctance, before I could compel myself to put on a clean shirt, and snow-white vest, too recently from the hand of my unpaid washerwoman.

One of the young ladies upon whom I called was more to me than a mere pleasant acquaintance.  My heart had, in fact, been warming towards her for some time; and I was particularly anxious to find favour in her eyes.  On this evening she was lovelier and more attractive than ever, and new bonds of affection entwined themselves around my heart.

Judge, then, of the effect produced upon me by the entrance of her mother—­at the very moment when my heart was all a-glow with love, who said, as she came in—­

“Oh, dear!  This is a strange world!”

“What new feature have you discovered now, mother?” asked one of her daughters, smiling.

“No new one, child; but an old one that looks more repulsive than ever,” was replied.  “Poor Mrs. Blake came to see me just now, in great trouble.”

“What about, mother?” All the young ladies at once manifested unusual interest.

Tell-tale blushes came instantly to my countenance, upon which the eyes of the mother turned themselves, as I felt, with a severe scrutiny.

“The old story, in cases like hers,” was answered.  “Can’t get her money when earned, although for daily bread she is dependent on her daily labour.  With no food in the house, or money to buy medicine for her sick child, she was compelled to seek me to-night, and to humble her spirit, which is an independent one, so low as to ask bread for her little ones, and the loan of a pittance with which to get what the doctor has ordered her feeble sufferer at home.”

“Oh, what a shame!” fell from the lips of Ellen, the one in whom my heart felt more than a passing interest; and she looked at me earnestly as she spoke.