CHRISTMAS EVE. 191

to Lucy, he must decline the invitation, as his
business would not permit him to be absent from
New York; and as Lucy seemed to be recovering
where she was, Mrs. Lovett was not willing to
leave him alone for a whole winter. Mr. Mow-
bray had, consequently, determined to come on
himself for Mary and Lucy, and had brought
Maumer to take care of them on their voyage.
All objections having been thus removed, and the
change greatly approved by Lucy’s physician, in
little more than three weeks after Mr. Mowbray’s
arrival in New York the cousins were in Georgia
together.

Delighted was Mary to introduce Cousin Lucy
to her home; and, though Lucy missed there
some conveniences to which she had been accus-
tomed, she found many pleasures hitherto un-
known to her. They lived much abroad, because
exercise was thought essential to Lucy, who im-
proved daily in that balmy air and warm sun-
shine. So rapidly, indeed, did her contracted
limbs relax themselves, that in the early part of
March she no longer needed a crutch to follow
Mary through the woods, which were draped