Lucy’s FRIENDS. 73

to the window, it seemed almost caught, and
Mary forgot herself.

“ Aunt Lovett would @ heap rather it should eat
sugar; en’t it, Cousin Lucy !”

“A heap, en’t it—now do don’t,” said the in-
sulting boy, dancing up to her, and flourishing
his poor, struggling captive in her face. Miss
Noel had greeted every specimen of her brother’s
wit with a loud laugh. This Mary did not mind
much—not very much—but now her Cousin Lucy
laughed too, and this did wound her bitterly.

“Where did she learn to talk so?’ asked Miss
Ann Noel, contemptuously.

Lucy, vexed and mortified that her cousin
should do or say anything that might be thought
ungenteel before the rich and fashionable Noels,
and anxious to clear her own family of the
charge, answered hastily, “Oh! at the South;
you know every body there learns to talk like the
negroes.”

This was too much for Mary’s endurance. She
threw off all restraint, and stood with her eyes
dilated, her cheeks glowing, and her whole frame
quivering with passion, while she exclaimed,