"I will not distress myself, but I will pay it as soon as I can." "You must not be too proud." "No, ma'am; but just proud enough." "Yes, that's it," replied Mrs. Gordon, smiling. "Pride is a very good thing in its place. It keeps people from being mean and wicked sometimes." "That's true pride," added Katy. "Yes; for there is a false pride, which makes people very silly and vain; which keeps them from doing their duty very often. You have none of this kind of pride." "I hope not." "Your friend Simon Sneed, whom the mayor spoke to me about, affords us a very good example of the folly of cherishing false pride. Where is Simon now?" "He keeps a store in Washington Street. He is a salesman now, and I don't think he is so foolish as he was." "Perhaps the lesson he learned did him good. But I am keeping you away from your mother, Katy. Who stays with her while you are away?" "Mrs. Sneed--Simon's mother." "Then she is a good woman." "And Simon is very kind; he has done a great many things for me, and I hope I shall be able to do something for him one of these days." "That's right, Katy. Think well of your friends, though others speak ill of them," said Grace. "Ah, there comes the carriage. I am going home with you, Katy, to see your mother." "You are very kind, Miss Grace." "Here is the money," added Mrs. Gordon, handing her a little roll of bills. "Thank you, ma'am," replied Katy, as she placed the money in her porte-monnaie. "But----" Here she came to a full stop, and her face was as crimson as a blush rose, but she took out the silver watch, and approached Mrs. Gordon. "What were you going to say, Katy?" "I brought this watch up," stammered she. "What for?" "You know I am a poor girl, my mother is a poor woman, and we didn't want you to think you were giving us the money, for we are very proud; that is, my mother is very proud, and so am I; and----" Here Katy drew a long breath, and came to a full stop again, unable to say what she wanted to say. "If you want anything else, Katy, don't hesitate to mention it; for I will not do anything to mortify your pride, even if it is unreasonable," said Mrs. Gordon. "I understand you perfectly; the twenty dollars is not a gift, but a loan." "Yes, ma'am; but if we should never be able to pay it, then it would be a gift." "No, it wouldn't." "I think so; and so I brought this watch, which you will please to take as security for the payment of the loan," said Katy, much confused, as she offered the watch to Mrs. Gordon. "My dear child, I do not want any security. Your word is just as good as your bond." "But I would rather you would take it. My mother is prouder than I am, for she wasn't always as poor as she is now." Katy suddenly clapped her hand over her mouth, when she recollected that this was a forbidden topic. "Some time you may tell me all about your mother; and I will call and see her to-morrow, and help you take care of her." "Please to take the watch, ma'am."