SUSAN GRAY. 45

« Why, as you are a servant, it might not
suit you; but I shall very soon have a gown of
it,” said she. ‘* Mrs. Hall, the pawnbroker,
has one to part with, as good as new, and she
has promised to let me have it for a guinea and
a half.”

«<A guinea and a half!” I cried; ‘‘ what a
large sum! you will never be able to raise it.”

“ And why not?” said Charlotte: “I have
already given Mrs. Hall half-a-guinea towards
it, and I know that I shall soon be able to raise
the guinea. But you must not say any thing
about it, for my mother is not to know at
present.”

“©O! Charlotte,” said I, « what are you about
todo? in what way can you get the money
unknown to your mother? And can you be
so mean and foolish as to deceive your mother
for the sake of a silk gown?”

“« Bless me! why, what is the matter now?”
cried she. ‘* Why, I shall shew my mother the
gown as soon as I have got it; and tell her that
I paid for it out of the money which my uncles,
and aunts, and grandfather had given me, and
which I shall say I saved up. And she will
not ask many questions, for she will be so pleas-
ed to see me so smart.”

‘* And can you resolve to offend God,” I said,
‘to deceive your mother, and, perhaps, to be
punished for ever in another world, for the sake
of a silk gown, which, in a few years, will fade
and wear away, and will be good for nothing
but to be thrown aside?”

“As to deceiving my mother,” answered