“But you oughtn’t to have said so, Hannah.”

“How could I help it, ma’am, when my blood was boiling over?  It is a shame; that’s the truth.”

Aunt Mary did not reply, but she thought all that Hannah had said to Mrs. Tompkins, and a good deal more.  Indeed, her forbearance was sorely tried.  Never since she could recollect, had she felt so unkindly towards any one as she now did towards her neighbour and fellow church member.  Often did she try to put away these unkind and troublesome thoughts; but the effort was vain.  Mrs. Tompkins had trespassed so far upon her rights, and then put such a face upon it, that she could not help feeling incensed at her conduct.

After a while “day after to-morrow” came, which was on Saturday.

“I must have that kettle to-day, Hannah,” said she, and Hannah started off to Mrs. Tompkins.

“You needn’t come after that kettle to-day,” spoke up Mrs. Tompkins, as Hannah entered, “my marmalade is not all done yet.”

“But we must have it to-day, Mrs. Tompkins.  Mrs. Pierce says as how I mustn’t come home without it.  The preserves are nearly ruined now, and all because you didn’t send home the kittle when we first wanted it.”

“I want none of your impudence,” said Mrs. Tompkins, going off at once into a passion, for she was rather a high-tempered woman, “and so just shut up at once.  If Mrs. Pierce is so fussy about her old worn-out kettle, she can have it and make the most out of it.  A pretty neighbour, indeed!  Here, Sally,” calling to her help, “empty that kettle and give it to Hannah.”

“Where shall I empty it?” asked Sally.

“Empty it into the slop barrel, for what I care; the whole kettle of marmalade will be spoiled any how.  A pretty neighbour, indeed!”

Sally, who understood her mistress’s mood, knew very well that her orders were not to be literally obeyed.  So she took the preserving kettle from the fire, and poured its contents into a large pan, instead of the slop barrel.

“Here’s the kettle,” said she, bringing it in and handing. it to Hannah.  It was black and dirty on the outside, and within all besmeared with the marmalade, for Sally cared not to take the trouble of cleaning it.

“There, take the kettle!” said Mrs. Tompkins in an excited tone, “and tell Mrs. Pierce that it is the last time I’ll borrow any thing from her.”

Hannah took the kettle, and started for home at full speed.

“So you’ve got it at last,” Said Aunt Mary, when Hannah entered; “and a pretty looking thing it is!  Really it is too bad to have a thing sent home in that predicament.”

“But ain’t she mad though!” remarked Hannah, with something of exultation in her tones.

“What in the world can she be mad about?” asked Aunt Mary in surprise.

“Mad because I would have the kittle.  Why, there she had her mamlet on the fire, boiling away, and said you couldn’t have the kittle.  But I told her you must have it; that your preserves were nearly all spoiled, just because you couldn’t get your own kittle.  Oh, but didn’t she bile over then!  And so she told Sally to pour the mamlet into the slop barrel, as it would all be spoiled any how, by your unneighbourly treatment to her.”