VANITY A BAD GUIDE. 117

eame too, and held out his hand to her, but he
laughed as he did so, at her doleful plight, ask-
ing, “‘ What made you run so?—what were you
afraid of ?”

Lucy was puzzled to reply. He was a stranger
to her. She could not tell him she had been
afraid of being seen shabbily dressed by her fashion-
able acquaintances, and, for perhaps the first time
in her life, Lucy seemed awkward, reserved, and
shy.

“Where are your shocs, Lucy? Can’t I get
them for you?” inquired Clara.

“Oh, no, Clara! they are in the bog, and you
would only leave yours there, if you tried to get
them.”

«Then come up to Mary, and I wili run home
and bring you another pair.”

“Where is your home?” asked the boy. “Is
it near? I dare say my sister can lend you a pair
of shoes.”

“Oh, thank you! but my home is just by; I
shall soon be there,” said Lucy, quickly, anxious
to escape being scen by any others.

“Well, then, good-by—don’t run away from us