Among those for whom she washed and ironed, was a woman in good circumstances, who never paid her anything until she asked for it, and then the money came with an air of reluctance.  Of course, she applied to her for her hard earnings, only when pressed by necessity.  On the morning before the interview with her sister, just detailed, Mrs. Haller found herself nearly out of everything, and with not a cent in the world.  The woman just alluded to, owed her two dollars, and she had nearly completed another week’s washing for her, which would make the amount due her two dollars and a half.  At dinner-time, every mouthful of food, and that a scanty portion, was consumed, and there would be nothing for supper, or breakfast, on the next morning, unless Mrs. Hamil should pay her.  It was nearly night when she finished ironing the last piece.  Hurriedly putting on her things, after sending two of her children with the clothes in a basket, she joined them as they were about entering the dwelling of Mrs. Hamil.

Her heart beat, audibly to her own ear, as she went in, and asked to see the woman for whom she had been labouring.  Although, heretofore, whenever she had asked for her money, she had received it, sometimes with reluctance, it is true, yet her extremity being now so great, she trembled lest, from some cause, she should not be able to get the pittance due her.

For a few moments she sat in the kitchen hesitating to ask for Mrs. Hamil, after the clothes had been given to the servant.  When she did do so, she was told that she was engaged and could not be seen.

“Ask her, then, for me, if you please,” she said, “to send me a dollar.  I want it very much.”

The servant went up and delivered her message, and in a few moments came back with the answer, that Mrs. Hamil was engaged, and could not attend to such matters;—­that she could step in on the next day, and get her money.

The words fell coldly upon her feelings, and oppressed her with a faint sickness.  Then she got up slowly from her chair, hesitated a moment, took one or two steps towards the door, and then pausing, said to the servant,

“Go up and tell Mrs. Hamil, that I am sorry to trouble her, but that I want the money very much, and that if she will send it down to me, she will confer a very great favour, indeed.”

“I had rather not,” the servant replied.  “She didn’t appear pleased at my going up the first time.  And I am sure she will be less pleased if I go again.”

“But you do not know how much I am in want of this money, Jane—­” and the poor woman’s voice quivered.

“Well, Mrs. Haller, I will try again,” the kind-hearted girl said, “but I can’t promise to be successful.  Mrs. Hamil is very queer sometimes.”

In a few minutes Jane returned with a positive refusal.  Mrs. Hamil couldn’t and wouldn’t be troubled in that way.

In a state of half-conscious, dreamy wretchedness, did Mrs. Haller turn her steps slowly homewards.  The shadows of evening were falling thickly around, adding a deeper gloom to her feelings.