“I have heard of folks putting on their best things and going out, but never coming back again, when they owed money. It’s a mean trick, but it’s sometimes done by them you wouldn’t think it of,” she said, with an aggravating sniff of intelligence. To be suspected of dishonesty was the last drop in Christie’s full cup. She looked at the woman with a strong desire to do something violent, for every nerve was tingling with irritation and anger. But she controlled herself, though her face was colorless and her hands were more tremulous than before. Unfastening her comfortable cloak she replaced it with a shabby shawl; took off her neat bonnet and put on a hood, unfolded six linen shirts, and shook them out before her landlady’s eyes; then retied the parcel, and, pausing on the threshold of the door, looked back with an expression that haunted the woman long afterward, as she said, with the quiver of strong excitement in her voice: “Mrs. Flint, I have always dealt honorably by you; I always mean to do it, and don’t deserve to be suspected of dishonesty like that. I leave every thing I own behind me, and if I don’t come back, you can sell them all and pay yourself, for I feel now as if I never wanted to see you or this room again.” Then she went rapidly away, supported by her indignation, for she had done her best to pay her debts; had sold the few trinkets she possessed, and several treasures given by the Carrols, to settle her doctor’s bill, and had been half killing herself to satisfy Mrs. Flint’s demands. The consciousness that she had been too lavish in her generosity when fortune smiled upon her, made the present want all the harder to bear. But she would neither beg nor borrow, though she knew Harry would delight to give, and Uncle Enos lend her money, with a lecture on extravagance, gratis. “I’ll paddle my own canoe as long as I can,” she said, sternly; “and when I must ask help I’ll turn to strangers for it, or scuttle my boat, and go down without troubling any one.” When she came to her employer’s door, the servant said: “Missis was out;” then seeing Christie’s disappointed face, she added, confidentially: “If it’s any comfort to know it, I can tell you that missis wouldn’t have paid you if she had a been to home. There’s been three other women here with work, and she’s put ’em all off. She always does, and beats ’em down into the bargain, which ain’t genteel to my thinkin’.” “She promised me I should be well paid for these, because I undertook to get them done without fail. I’ve worked day and night rather than disappoint her, and felt sure of my money,” said Christie, despondently. “I’m sorry, but you won’t get it. She told me to tell you your prices was too high, and she could find folks to work cheaper.” “She did not object to the price when I took the work, and I have half-ruined my eyes over the fine stitching. See if it isn’t nicely done.” And Christie displayed her exquisite needlework with pride.