96 THE COUSINS.

Mrs. Lovett hesitated a moment, and then said,
“Give me your slipper, Lucy; your father will
get the shoes for you, and then you shall have
your choice between wearing them or staying at
home.”’ Lucy gave her slipper very reluctantly.

Mr. Lovett got the horse and went to N: ,
and returned to dinner, with two pairs of thick
leather boots, some strong calico, and some coarse
linen check, out of which, he said, a sort of carman’s
frock. might be made for Charles, which would
keep his clothes clean when at play out of doors.

As soon as Mary had dined, she was busy with
her shoes, putting in the strings and lacing them
up, talking all the time of pleasant remembrances
of blackberrying in Georgia, and her equally plea-
sant expectations from it here. During all this
time, Lucy sat at the table, looking very uncom-
fortable. She still continued there when Clars
Nye, with her bonnet on and a basket in her hand,
made her appearance at the door, asking if they

 

were ready.

“T am almost ready, Clara,” said Mary, quickly.
“T have only to put on my bonnet, and to get—
oh! I haven’t any basket.”’