"That's the landlord again. I know his ways, the mean wretch!" said I to myself, hastily rubbing my eyes dry, and making up before the mirror in the hat-tree as fierce a face as I could. Then I snatched open the door, and tried to make believe my heart wasn't in my mouth.
But the landlord wasn't there, and I've always been a little sorry, for I was looking so savage, that a wee little woman, who was at the door, trembled all over, and started to go down the steps.
"Don't go, ma'am," I said, very quickly, with the best smile I could put on (and I think I've been long enough in the business to give the right kind of a smile to a person that looks like a new boarder). "Don't go—I thought it was—I thought it was—somebody else that rang. Come in, do."
She looked as if I was doing her a great honor, and I thought that looked like poor pay, but I was too glad at not seeing the landlord just then to care if I did lose one week's board; besides, she didn't look as if she could eat much.
"I see you advertise a small bedroom to let," said she, looking appealing-like, as if she was going to beat me down on the strength of being poor. "How much is it a week?"
"Eight dollars," said I, rather shortly. Seven dollars was all I expected to get, but I put on one, so as to be beaten down without losing anything. "I can get eight from a single gentleman, the only objection being that he wants to keep a dog in the back yard."
"Oh, I'll pay it," said she, quickly taking out her pocketbook. "I'll take it for six weeks, anyhow."
I never felt so ashamed of myself in my life. I made up my mind to read a penitential passage of Scripture as soon as I closed the bargain with her, but, remembering the Book says to be reconciled to your brother before laying your gift on the altar, I says, quick as I could, for fear that if I thought over it again I couldn't be honest:
"You shall have it for seven, my dear madame, if you're going to stay so long, and I'll do your washing without extra charge."
This last I said to punish myself for suspecting an innocent little lady.