"I don't call myself any thing very extra; but people for whom I work seem generally pleased with what I do." "I have six shirts cut out for Mr. Lander. How soon can you make them?" "I couldn't make them all in less than a couple of weeks, as I have other work that must be done within that time." "Very well. That will do." The poor woman took the shirts home, feeling grateful to Mrs. Brandon for having recommended her, and thankful to get the work. In order to give satisfaction to both her new customer, and those for whom she already had work in the house, she divided her time between them, sewing one day for Mrs. Lander and the next on the work received before hers came in. At the end of a week, three of the shirts were ready, and, as she needed very much the money she had earned in making them, she carried them over to Mrs. Lander on Saturday afternoon. "I have three of the shirts ready," said she, as she handed to the lady the bundle she had brought. "Ah! have you?" remarked Mrs. Lander, as, with a grave face, she opened the bundle and examined the garments. This examination was continued with great minuteness, and long enough almost to have counted every stitch in the garments. She found the shirts exceedingly well made; much better than she had expected to find them. "When will you have the others ready?" she asked, as she laid them aside. "I will try and bring them in next Saturday." "Very well." Then came a deep silence. The poor woman sat with the fingers of both hands moving together uneasily, and Mrs. Lander looked away out of the window and appeared to be intent upon something in the street. "Are these made to please you?" Mrs. Walton ventured to ask. "They'll do," was the brief answer; and then came the same dead silence, and the same interest on the part of the lady in something passing in the street. Mrs. Walton wanted the money she had earned for making the shirts, and Mrs. Lander knew it. But Mrs. Lander never liked to pay out money, if she could help it; and as doing so always went against the grain, it was her custom to put off such unpleasant work as long as possible. She liked to encourage the very poor, because she knew they generally worked cheaper than people who were in easier circumstances; but the drawback in their case was, that they always wanted money the moment their work was done.