“‘I guess I’ll take it,’ said I, laying the money on the shopkeeper’s counter.

“‘Better have paid Mrs. Blake.’  This thought crossed my mind, an hour afterwards, by which time, the little ornament had lost its power of pleasing.  ‘So much would at least have been saved.’

“I was leaving the table, after tea, on the evening that followed, when the waiter said to me—­

“‘Mrs. Blake is at the door, and wishes to see you.’

“I felt worried at hearing this; for there was no change in my pockets, and the poor washerwoman, had, of course, come for her money.

“‘She’s in a great hurry,’ I muttered to myself as I descended to the door.

“’You’ll have to wait until you bring home my clothes next week, Mrs. Blake.’  I havn’t any change this evening.’

“The expression of the poor woman’s face, as she turned slowly away, without speaking, rather softened my feelings.

“‘I’m sorry,’ said I—­’but, it can’t be helped now.  I wish you had said, this morning, that you wanted money.  I could have paid you then.’

“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 coarse, 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 enquired.

“’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, I 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 than a mere pleasant acquaintance. (And here Mr. Smith glanced, with a tender smile, towards me.) My heart had, in fact been warming towards her for some time; and I was particularly anxious to find favor in her eyes.  On this evening she was lovelier and more attractive than ever.

“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—­