THE PREMIUM. 178

to reproach herself until she had formed a scheme
by which to make amends for her momentary
injustice.

“You do not say how you like my composi-
tion,” said Lucy, somewhat disappointed, as well
as surprised, by her long silence.

“ T like it so well, Cousin Lucy, that lam going
to beg for it; you will not want it, and if you
would only give it to me, I—I would be very
glad.”

“ But what do you want with it?’ asked Lucy,
who, knowing that Mary was too honourable and
truthful to show what another had written as her
own, was quite perplexed by her request, espe-
cially as she had made it very earnestly, and with
evident embarrassment, blushing and stammering
all the while.

“J cannot tell you what I want with it, Cousin
Lucy; but, if you will only lend it to me for a
weck or two, Iwill give it back to you again,”
was Mary’s reply.

“Well, there it is; but 1 do wish I knew what
you wanted with it.”

“ You shall know in time.”