THE EMPTY PAN.
T was Saturday, and Meg had plenty to do, so that her mother-in-law's wish to have her at once was a little confusing.
When she got down to her own room again her fire was low, her breakfast table untidy, and things less bright and orderly than they had been once since her marriage.
She felt inclined to go up to her mother-in-law and excuse herself for to-day; but the remembrance of Jenny's breach of faith made her pause.
"No," she said to herself, "even if my bread has to be given up for to-day I must not disappoint mother."
She ran up again and tapped at Mrs. Seymour's door.
"Mother, I want to arrange my work; how long will your ironing take me?"
"Why," answered Mrs. Seymour, "I've got behind this week, else I do say if they won't bring it to me before Friday, I can't do it! But you see, my dear, I've to take it pretty much as I find it. Poor folks haven't many clothes, and when they spare them, they want them done up quick. These came in yesterday, and if Jenny had come to her time, they'd have been half done by now."
