THE FARM. 81

Lovett, finding that she could not fully satisfy
her, referred her to Mrs. Nye, the farmer’s wite,
who was in the parlour, “fixing up things a little,’
to use her own words. This good woman was
quite pleased at Mary’s interest in the farming,
and she asked her if she would like “ te go round
a bit”? with her, and see the chickens and the
little ducks. There were few things Mary would
have liked better, and this her Aunt Lovett saw,
though she was too bashful to express all her
pleasure. Charles, too, begged to go, but Lucy,
when invited, drew back, saying she did not care
to see ducks and chickens. Good Mrs. Nyo’s
calico bonnet, coarse dress, and stout shoes did
not recommend her to the companionship of a fine
lady, such as Lucy Lovett always strove to ap-
pear.

Charles and Mary cared for none of these things,
so they walked down to the brook, and saw the
ducks sail along upon it with a slow, graceful
motion, arching their necks as if to look at their own
image in the clear water ; then, dipping their bills
and fluttering their wings, throw a sparkling
shower over their glossy backs. Then they tock

PF