MY COUSIN. 227 
long lashes, and after seeming to look right 
through me, answered, — 
“ Why not ? You know how glad we are to 
see you.” 
“ Why not ? ” said I, a little piqued at the word 
we; for, to tell the truth, I half suspected I was 
in love with my pretty cousin, and had, as you 
know, flattered myself that it was reciprocal. 
“ Why ? Because I shall be very busy, and, 
besides, I heard Thornton ask you, the other night, 
to go to P-to-morrow evening with him ; 
and of course, my pretty coz, you go.” 
“ There goes that Thornton again,” said she : “ I 
declare you are too provoking : you know what I 
think of him.” 
“ Ah, but,” replied I, wickedly, “ why make en¬ 
gagements on the night an old school-fellow is 
going away ? ” 
Her gayety was stopped at once. She hesitated 
an instant, and then answered,— 
“ I told him Pd give him an answer to-day, and 
1 thought we were all going together; but I'll send 
him a note declining at once. You know you 
don’t think what you say, cousin.” 
I laughed it off, and directly rose to depart. 
“ How very soon you are going! ” said she, in 
her pretty, chiding voice; and I thought there 
was something unusually melancholy in its fiute- 
like tones. 
“ And you’re going to kiss me,” said I, gaylv, 
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