154 THE COUSINS.

board, and cherry table, and four straw-bottomed
chairs were free from all smear or dust, and the
bed, on its low, painted bedstead, was covered
with a clean patchwork quilt.

Eliza Bennet welcomed Mr. Lovett very warmly,
and received Lucy, whom he introduced to her
as his daughter, with great kindness. Some
time was taken up in questions about her health,
and accounts of Mr. Lovett’s country excursion,
and of the engagements which had kept him
from seeing her since his return to the city. At
length he said to her, ‘‘ You have moved here
since I saw you last.”

“Yes, sir, and sorry enough I was to leave
. the old place, where I had lived so long; but
the landlord wanted to pull down the house and
build a better—so I had to go.”

“You seem to have a comfortable room here,”’
said Mr. Lovett.

“Oh, yes, sir, very comfortable indeed; and
T have a kind friend living here, which is a great
pleasure; but I have one trial here, sir, which I
have thought, if it would not be too great a liberty,
T should like to speak of to you or your good lady.”