134 LUCY AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.

the beauty of the evening, Lucy’s thoughts were
away down by the mill,- ler imagination being
busy, reproducing images of the great wheel, the
channel below the mill, the wet stones, the slab,
and the current of water.

At last she said, —

“ Mother, what makes it unlucky to thank
people for doing a kindness?”

*T didn’t know that it was,” replied her mother.

“Yes, mother,” said Lucy; “Comfort says
it is.”

“Tt seems to me,” replied her mother, “ that
Comfort is a great authority with you these days.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” said Lucy.

Why, I think you quote Comfort pretty often.”

* Quote her?” repeated Lucy. “I don’t know
what you mean: I never heard of quoting any
body.”

‘What was it she said about its being un-
lucky ?”

“ Why, she said it was unlucky to take any
pay for doing a kindness.”

“ People have a great many sayings,” replied
her mother, “about what is lucky and unlucky;
but I haven’t much faith in such notions myself.”

“T don’t see what they say so for, if it is not
true,” said Lucy.