36 THE COUSINS.

sent to Lucy from her grandmother—was produced,
and Mary threaded her needle.

“Shall I give you half to do?” asked
Lucy.

Mary looked frightened, for half of what was
yet to be done on the skirt seemed to her a great
deal. Mrs. Lovett marked the expression of her
face, and said, “Oh! no, Lucy, a quarter of it
will help you very much; besides, you could not
get along so well with your cousin Werking so
near to you.”

A quarter was marked, and Mary’s labours
began. She was really desirous to sew very fast,
both from a good-natured wish to help her cousin,

and for her own credit’s sake; but steady appli-

cation to anything is not easy for one who has
becn accustomed only to amuse herself, and before
Mary’s one quarter was finished, Lucy exclaimed,
‘‘T have done!” then, looking over Mary, she
added, “Oh, dear me! why, you have almost a
finger to do yet!”

“JT will do that,” said Mrs. Lovett kindly,
taking the work from Mary’s hand. After ex-
amining the sewing, she added, “your Cousin