16 THE COUSINS.

giving up a great pleasure to gratify me. I can-
not very well explain to you my reasons for asking
this; yet, while you believe that I love you, you
must know that they are good reasons. Whom
would you like, most of all, to have go home with
us 2”

“Father !’ said Mary, looking smilingly around
at Mr. Mowbray, who sat silent, but attentive, in
the same room.

‘Ah! but you know that father cannot go, so
that is a pleasure I cannot ask you to give up;
but whom, next to father, would you most de-
sire >”

‘*Maumer.”

“T thought so; and now I wish you to leave
Maumer. Do you love me well enough to gratify
me in this?”

There were a few minutes of silence, during
which Mary sat with a downcast face, her lip
quivering, and her bosom heaving with scarce-
suppressed sobs. At length Mr. Lovett said,
“Speak, Mary ! remember, I only ask this—I do
not command it. Shall Maumer go or stay?”

Mary looked up in his face, and said, with a