18 THE COUSINS:

earnestly, “Why not—why do you not want her
now to go?”

‘Because I know that poor mamma doesn’t
wish her to go,” whispered Mary, leaning her
head on her father’s shoulder.

Surprised and overcome by this unexpected
mention of his wife, Mr. Mowbray could not
speak for a few seconds. When he could com-
mand himself sufficiently, he asked gently, “‘ How
can you tell, dear Mary, what mamma wishes
about this; she never spoke to you of it, did
she?”

“No; but you know she said that Uncle Lo-
yett’s wishes were her wishes too.”’

A fervent embrace was the only answer which
Mr. Mowbray could make to his child, but Uncle
Lovett praised her, and called her his good child;
and, soothed and comforted, Mary went almost
cheerfully to communicate to her nurse the new
arrangement. To reconcile her to this arrange-
ment was quite impossible. By turns she wept
over Mary and railed against Mr. Lovett, saying
often, ‘“‘T tink he is a bery hard case, dat de poor
child must go to strange people, and not eben hab