se things that
were so often in her mind, but of "C," and then scolded herself for
caring whether that distant individual was man or woman. What mattered
it to a young lady who felt herself above flirtations?

So there was a little scowl on her face as she turned around, that did
not lessen when she beheld Miss Kling standing in her door-way. For Miss
Rogers did not, to speak candidly, find her landlady a congenial spirit,
and only remained upon her premises because being there was a lesser
evil than living in that most unhomelike of all places, a
boarding-house.

"I thought I would make you a call," the unwelcome visitor remarked,
rubbing her nose, that from constant friction had become red and
shining; "I have been lonesome to-day. I usually run into Mrs.
Simonson's in the afternoon, but she has been out since twelve o'clock.
I can't make out--" musingly, "where she can have gone! not that she is
just the company I desire. She has never been used to anything above the
common, poor soul, and will say 'them rooms,' but she is better than no
one, and at least can appreciate in others the culture and standing she
has never attained," and Miss Kling sneezed, and glanced at Nattie with
an expression that plainly said her lodger would do well to imitate, in
this last respect, the lady in question.

"I am very little acquainted with Mrs. Simonson," Nattie replied, with a
tinge of scorn curling her lip, for, in truth, she had little reverence
for Miss Kling's blue blood. "Her lodgers like her very much, I believe;
at least, Quimby speaks of her in the highest terms."

"Quimby!" repeated Miss Kling, with a sniffle of contempt. "A
blundering, awkward creature, who is always doing or saying some
shocking thing!"

"I know that he is neither elegant nor talented, and is often very
awkward, but he is honest and kind-hearted, and one is willing to
overlook other deficiencies for such rare qualities," Nattie replied, a
little warmly, "and so Mrs. Simonson feels, I am confident."

Miss Kling eyed her sharply.

"Not at all! Allow me, Miss Rogers, to know! Mrs. Simonson endures his
blunders, because, as she says, he can live on the interest of his
money, 'on a pinch,' and she thinks such a lodger something of which to
boast. On a pinch, indeed!" added Miss Kling, with a sneeze, and giving
the principal feature in her face something very like the exclamation,
"a very tight pinch it would be, I am thinking!" Then somewhat
spiteful