“Yes; the talk is about you.  It came from doctor somebody; I don’t know whom.  He’s attending the girl.”

“What is said?  I wish to know.  Don’t keep back anything on account of my feelings.  I shall know as to its truth or falsehood; and, true or false, it is better that I should stand fully advised.  A seamstress came to work for me on Monday—­it was a stormy day, you know—­took cold from wet feet, and is now very ill.  That much I know.  It might have happened at your house, or your neighbors, without legitimate blame lying against either of you.  Now, out of this simple fact, what dreadful report is circulated to my injury?  As I have just said, don’t keep anything back.”

“The story,” replied the friend, “is that she walked for half a mile before breakfast, in the face of that terrible north-east storm, and came to you with feet soaking and skirts wet to the knees, and that you put her to work, in this condition, in a cold room, and suffered her to sit in her wet garments all day.  That, in consequence, she went home sick, was attacked with pleurisy in the evening, which soon ran into acute pneumonia, and that she is now dying.  The doctor, who told my friend, called it murder, and said, without hesitation, that you were a murderer.”

“Dying!  Did he say that she was dying?”

“Yes, ma’am.  The doctor said that you might as well have put a pistol ball through her head.”

“Me!”

“Yes, you.  Those were his words, as repeated by my friend.”

“Who is the friend to whom you refer?”

“Mrs. T——.”

“And, without a word of inquiry as to the degree of blame referable to me, she repeats this wholesale charge, to my injury?  Verily, that is Christian charity!”

“I suggested caution on her part, and started to see you at once.  Then she did sit in her wet clothing all day at your house?”

“I don’t know whether she did or not,” replied Mrs. Lowe, fretfully.  “She was of woman’s age, and competent to take care of herself.  If she came in wet, she knew it; and there was fire in the house, at which she could have dried herself.  Even a half-witted person, starting from home on a morning like that, and expecting to be absent all day, would have provided herself with dry stockings and slippers for a change.  If the girl dies from cold taken on that occasion, it must be set down to suicide, not murder.  I may have been thoughtless, but I am not responsible.  I’m sorry for her; but I cannot take blame to myself.  The same thing might have happened in your house.”

“It might have happened in other houses than yours, Mrs. Lowe, I will admit,” was replied.  “But I do not think it would have happened in mine.  I was once a seamstress myself and for nearly two years went out to work in families.  What I experienced during those two years has made me considerate towards all who come into my house in that capacity.  Many who are compelled to earn a living with the needle, were once in better condition than now, and the change touches some of them rather sharply.  In some families they are treated with a thoughtful kindness, in strong contrast with what they receive in other families.  If sensitive and retiring, they learn to be very chary about asking for anything beyond what is conceded, and bear, rather than suggest or complain.”