VANITY A BAD GUIDE. 113

“J do wish I could see some of them—if it
was only the coachman I should know him, for I
have been in Mr. Noel’s carriage.” This was
intended as a still farther proof of Lucy’s inti-
macy.

“T can’t show you the people,” said Clara,
“but I can show you the house they are staying
at, if you will come a little way over the fence,
and into that wood below.”

Lucy rose at once to accompany Clara, but
Mary stopped her, saying, ‘‘ Cousin Lucy, you
know Aunt Lovett said you must be careful not to
get your feet wet, because you had acold already.”
We fear Mary thought as much of preventing the
recognition of the Noels as she did of enforcing
obedience to Aunt Lovett’s commands.

Her remonstrance had little effect on Lucy,
who exclaimed impatiently, “Dear me! Cousin
Mary, how can I wet my feet with such thick
shoes as these on?”

The next moment she was down the slope which
led to the spring with Clara. They crossed the
spring on some stepping-stones a little below the

walnut-tree. Clara then proceeded up again on
H