"We may not always be able to pay the interest. Times may be bad; or John may be sick; or a dozen other things may happen."
"You are always borrowing trouble, Letty," said Agnes. "Does not the Bible say, 'Take no thought for to-morrow'?"
"Yes; and the way to avoid doing so is to take thought for to-day," said Letty, smiling. "The house once our own, there will be no more thought needed, except to pay the taxes and the insurance. The Bible says, too, 'Owe no man any thing.' And, since we are upon quotations, I will give you another,—a wise one, too, though not from the Bible:—'He that buildeth his house with other men's money is like one that gathereth together stones for his own tomb.'"
"I don't know what you mean by that," said Agnes. "The money is our own."
"Not while we honestly owe it, Agnes."
"That may be your doctrine, but it is not mine," said Agnes, lightly. And then she added, as if to turn the conversation, "Shall I turn these things out of the jars, or keep them till I want to use them."
"Keep them altogether," said Letty. "I meant you should. They are handsome old jars, and will be useful for a good many purposes."
Agnes expressed herself much obliged, and the cousins parted.
A few days later, John came home, looking both annoyed and amused.
"Has Agnes said any thing to you about their notion of building?" he asked.