rom poor Mrs. Blake the trifling sum due her for
washing. What my feelings were, it is impossible for me to describe;
and difficult for any one, never himself placed in so unpleasant a
position, to imagine.

"My relief was great when the conversation flowed on again, and in
another channel; for I then perceived that suspicion did not rest
upon me. You may be sure that Mrs. Blake had her money before ten
o'clock on the next day, and that I never again fell into the error
of neglecting, for a single week, my poor washerwoman."

"Such a confession from you, Mr. Smith, of all men," said I, feeling
a little uncomfortable, that he should have told this story of
himself.

"We are none of us perfect," he answered, "He is best, who,
conscious of natural defects and evils, strives against, and
overcomes them."

CHAPTER XXVIII.

MY BORROWING NEIGHBOR.

"I THINK, my dear," said I to my husband one day, "that we shall
have to move from here."

"Why so?" asked Mr. Smith, in surprise. "It is a very comfortable
house. I am certain we will not get another as desirable at the same
rent."

"I don't know that we will. But--"

Just as I said this, my cook opened the door of the room where we
were sitting and said--

"Mrs. Jordon, ma'am, wants to borrow half a pound of butter. She
says, they are entirely out, and their butter-man won't come before
to-morrow."

"Very well, Bridget, let her have it."

The cook retired.

"Why do you wish to move, Jane?" asked my husband, as the girl
closed the door.

"Cook's visit was quite apropos," I replied. "It is on account of
the 'half pound of butter,' 'cup of sugar,' and 'pan of flour'
nuisance."

"I don't exactly comprehend you, Jane," said my husband.

"It is to get rid of a borrowing neighbor. The fact is, Mrs. Jordon
is almost too much for me. I like to be accommodating; it gives me
pleasure to oblige my neighbors; I am ready to give any reasonable
obedience to the Scripture injunction--_from him that would borrow
of thee, turn thou not away_; but Mrs. Jordon goes beyond all
reason."

"Still, if she is punctual in returning what she gets, I don't know
that you ought to let it annoy you a great deal."

"There lies the gist of the matter, my dear," I replied. "If there
were no 'if,' such as you suggest, in the case, I would not think a
great deal about it. But, the fact is, there is no telling the cups
of sugar, pans of flour, pounds of butter, and little matters of