172 THE COUSINS.

the beautiful things of carth to the Father in
heaven who made them all. Then she referred
to her present home, where she had neither woods
nor waters, birds nor flowers, and yet, to use her
own expression, was as happy as the day was long,
because, though almost all else was wanting which
had delighted her in her other home, she had
still the kindness and love which she had expe-
rienced there. All this was, as we have already
remarked, simply told; but it was told with feel-
ing, and Lucy liked it very much, though she
thought a great deal more might be said of the
pleasures of home.

“Do you not think I have written enough?”
asked Mary, in a disappointed tone, for she was
too weary of her labours to be pleased at the
thought of renewing them.

“Oh, yes, I think your composition is quite
long enough; and it is so good, that I should not
wonder at all if you should get the premium.”

Mary turned away with a bashful smile. She
began to have some hope herself that the beauti-
ful miniature bookcase, with Miss Edgeworth’s
delightful stories, might be hers.