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was proud it was also generous, and she humbled herself meekly to confess her fault, and penitently to implore forgiveness.

Even so she had gone to Mrs. Flintwell. She owed her a debt of gratitude which should have sealed her lips when bitter and maligning thoughts rose to her unbridled tongue; yet she had spoken ill of her; she had given a malicious interpretation to fair-seeming conduct, and assigned interested motives to actions which bore the appearance of noble self-sacrifice.

Mrs. Flintwell's manners lacked all softness; there was about her a hard solidity, a ramrod uprightness of mind and deportment. She was stern in her honesty, blunt in her truthfulness; her uncompromising integrity often caused her to be rude, for she regarded suavity merely as graceful hypocrisy. She possessed kind feelings, and was actuated by a strong desire to serve her fellow-creatures; but, unhappily, she was not blessed with one particle of tact which could prompt her to use that considerate delicacy which renders services acceptable.

Her favors were conferred in such a decided, pointed way, and so obviously from a sense of right, rather than from tenderness or sympathy, that those whom she desired to benefit, experienced an inclination to reject the proffered aid, and struggle on, rather than receive help so unlovingly tendered.