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diff --git a/20722-h/20722-h.htm b/20722-h/20722-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8173c55 --- /dev/null +++ b/20722-h/20722-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11112 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Little Girl in Old Salem, by Amanda Minnie Douglas</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 80%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Little Girl in Old Salem, by Amanda Minnie +Douglas</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: A Little Girl in Old Salem</p> +<p>Author: Amanda Minnie Douglas</p> +<p>Release Date: March 1, 2007 [eBook #20722]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD SALEM***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by<br /> + Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, J. P. W. Fraser, Emmy,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net/c/)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Front matter"> +<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/cover.jpg" width="257" height="400" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +</td><td align='center'><h1>A LITTLE GIRL IN<br /> +OLD SALEM</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>AMANDA M. DOUGLAS</h2> + + +<br /><br /><br /> +<img src="images/emblem.png" width="78" height="100" alt="Emblem" title="Emblem" /> +<br /><br /><br /> + +NEW YORK<br /> + +DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY<br /> +1908 +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE "LITTLE GIRL" SERIES</h2> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="THE "LITTLE GIRL" SERIES"> +<tr><td align='left'>A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD NEW YORK.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>HANNAH ANN; A SEQUEL.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD BOSTON.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD PHILADELPHIA.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD WASHINGTON.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD NEW ORLEANS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD DETROIT.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD ST. LOUIS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD CHICAGO.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD SAN FRANCISCO.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD QUEBEC.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD BALTIMORE.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1908<br /> + +<span class="smcap">By Dodd, Mead and Company</span><br /> + +Published, September, 1908</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><span class="smcap">chapter</span></td><td align='right'><span class="smcap">page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Two Letters</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Little Girl</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_19'>19</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Stranger, yet at Home</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_36'>36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Unwelcome</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_52'>52</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Making Friends with the Little Girl</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_68'>68</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Going to School</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_91'>91</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Changeful Lights of Childhood</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_108'>108</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Sorrow's Crown of Sorrow</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_128'>128</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Lessons of Life</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_143'>143</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A New Departure</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_161'>161</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Voice of a Rose</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_180'>180</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Changes in the Old House</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_194'>194</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Taste of Pleasure</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_213'>213</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In Gay Old Salem</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_231'>231</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Lovers and Lovers</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_248'>248</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Perilous Paths</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_270'>270</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Flowering of the Soul</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_288'>288</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'VIII'">XVIII</ins></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Passing of Old Salem</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_296'>296</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>TWO LETTERS</h3> + + +<p>The Leveretts were at their breakfast in the large +sunny room in Derby Street. It had an outlook on +the garden, and beyond the garden was a lane, well +used and to be a street itself in the future. Then, at +quite a distance, a strip of woods on a rise of ground, +that still further enhanced the prospect. The sun +slanted in at the windows on one side, there was nothing +to shut it out. It would go all round the house +now, and seem to end where it began, in the garden.</p> + +<p>Chilian was very fond of it. He always brought his +book to the table; he liked to eat slowly, to gaze out and +digest one or two thoughts at his leisure, as well as +the delightful breakfast set before him. He was a man +of delicate tastes and much refinement, for with all the +New England sturdiness, hardness one might say, there +was in many families a strain of what we might term +high breeding. His face, with its clear-cut features, +indicated this. His hair was rather light, fine, with a +few waves in it that gave it a slightly tumbled look—far +from any touch of disorder. His eyes were a deep, +clear blue, his complexion fair enough for a woman.</p> + +<p>His father and grandfather had lived and died in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +this house. He had bought out his sister's share when +she married, and she had gone to Providence. He +had asked the two relatives of his father—termed +cousins by courtesy—to continue housekeeping. They +were the last of their family and in rather straitened +circumstances. Miss Elizabeth was nearing sixty, tall, +straight, fair, and rather austere-looking. Eunice was +two years younger, shorter, a trifle stouter, with a +rounder face, and a mouth that wore a certain sweetness +when it did not actually smile.</p> + +<p>Chilian was past thirty. He was a Harvard graduate, +and now went in two days each week for teaching +classes. His father had left some business interests in +Salem, rather distasteful to him, but he was a strictly +conscientious person and attended to them, if with a +sort of mental protest. For the rest, he was a bookworm +and revelled in intellectual pursuits.</p> + +<p>The day previous had been desperately stormy, this +late March morning was simply glorious. The mail, +which came late in the afternoon, had not been delivered, +causing no uneasiness, as letters were not daily +visitors. But now the serving-man, with a gentle rap, +opened the door and said briefly:</p> + +<p>"Letters."</p> + +<p>Eunice rose and took them.</p> + +<p>"An East Indian one for you, Chilian, and why—one +from Boston—for you, Elizabeth. It is Cousin +Giles' hand."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth reached for it. They were both so in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span>terested +that they took no note of Chilian's missive. +She cut carefully around the big wafer he had used. +It was a large letter sheet, quite blue and not of over-fine +quality. Envelopes had not come in and there +was quite an art in folding a letter—unfolding it as +well.</p> + +<p>"Really what has started Cousin Giles? I hope no +one is dead——"</p> + +<p>"There would have been a black seal."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, m'm;" making a curious sound with +closed lips. "They are well. Oh, the Thatchers have +been visiting them and are coming out here for a week—why, +on Saturday, and to-day is Thursday. Chilian, +do you hear that?"</p> + +<p>"What?" he asked, closing his book over his own +letter.</p> + +<p>"Why, the Thatchers are coming—on Saturday, not +a long notice, and I don't know how many. They have +had a nice time in Boston—and Cousin Giles has been +beauing them round and seems to like it. He might +have sent you word on Tuesday, when you were in;" +and Elizabeth's tone expressed a grievance.</p> + +<p>"And the house not cleaned! It's been so cold."</p> + +<p>"The house is always clean. Don't, I beg of you, +Cousin Bessy, turn it upside down and scrub and +scour, and wear yourself out and take a bad cold. +There are two guest chambers, and I suppose half a +dozen more might be made ready."</p> + +<p>"That's the man of it. I don't believe a man would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +ever see dirt until some day when he had to dig himself +out, or call upon the women folks to do it."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth always softened, in spite of her austerity, +when he called her Bessy. The newer generation indulged +in household diminutives occasionally.</p> + +<p>"Well, there is to be no regular house-cleaning. We +shall want fires a good six weeks yet."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why Cousin Giles couldn't have said +how many there were. Let me see, Rachel Leverett, +who married the Thatcher, was your father's cousin. +They went up in Vermont. Then they came to Concord. +He"—which meant the head of the house—"went +to the State Legislature after the war. He had +some sons married. Why, I haven't seen them in +years."</p> + +<p>"It will be just like meeting strangers," declared +Eunice. "It's almost as if we kept an inn."</p> + +<p>Chilian turned. "When I am in Boston to-morrow +I will hunt up Cousin Giles."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that will be good of you."</p> + +<p>He slipped his letter into the Latin book he had been +going over, and with a slight inclination of the head +left the room. The hall was wide, though it ended just +beyond this door, where it led to the kitchen. The +woodwork was of oak, darkened much by the years +that had passed over it. The broad staircase showed +signs of the many feet that had trodden up and down.</p> + +<p>Chilian's study was directly over the living-room, +and next to the sleeping-chamber. This part had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +been added to the main house, but that was years ago. +Bookshelves were ranged on two sides, but the windows +interfered with their course around, two on each +of the other sides. There was a wide fireplace between +those at the west, and under them low closets, with +cushions—ancestors of useful window-seats. A large +easy-chair, covered with Cordovan leather, another +curiously carved with a straight narrow strip up the +back, set off by the side carving. The seat was broad +and cushioned. Then one from France, as you could +tell by the air and style, that had been in a palace. +A low splint rocker, and one with a high back +and comfortable cushions, inviting one to take a +nap.</p> + +<p>The bookcases went about two-thirds of the way +up and were ornamented by articles beautiful and +grotesque from almost every land, for there had been +seafaring men in the Leverett family, and more than +one home in Salem could boast of treasures of this +sort.</p> + +<p>Chilian stirred the fire, sending a shower of sparks +up the chimney, and put on a fresh log. Then he +settled himself in his chair and fingered his letter in +an absent way. The last time Anthony wrote he +vaguely suggested changes and chances and the uncertainty +of life, rather despondent for a brisk business +man who was always seeing opportunities at +money-making. Had he been unfortunate in some of +his ventures? And it was odd in him to write so soon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +again. Not that they were ever frequent correspondents.</p> + +<p>He opened the letter slowly. It was tied about with +a thread of waxed silk and sealed, so he cut about the +seal deliberately; he had a delicate carefulness in all +his ways that was rather womanly. Then unfolding +it, he began to read.</p> + +<p>Was this what the previous letter had meant? Was +Anthony Leverett nearing the end, counting his days, +finishing up his earthly work, and delegating it to +other hands? There was something pathetic in it, +and the trust in the uprightness and honor that Anthony +Leverett reposed in him touched him keenly. +But this part surprised and, at first, annoyed him. +He drew his fine brows in a repellent sort of frown.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Do you remember, Chilian, when you were a lad +of eighteen, in your second year at Harvard, you came +to Salem to recruit after a period of rather severe +study? And you met Alletta Orne, who was four-and-twenty +and engaged to me. In some sort of +fashion we were all related. Your father had been +like a father to me in my later boyhood. And, with +a young man's fervor, you fell in love with her. I was +sorry then for any pain you suffered, I am glad now; +for there is no one else in the wide world I would as +soon trust her child and mine to.</p> + +<p>"We had been away nearly three years, when we +came back, and the baby was born in the house en<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>deared +to me by many tender recollections. You were +away then, but on our second visit we were the most +congenial friends again. I did not think then it +would be our last meeting. I had meant, after making +my fortune, to return and end my days in my birthplace. +My greatest interest was in the commercial +house I had established. My first mate, John +Corwin, took my place and sailed the vessel. Then +my dear wife died, and I had only my little girl +left.</p> + +<p>"I could hardly believe six months ago that I must +die. Should I return, or remain here and sleep beside +the one who had filled my soul with her serene and +lovely life and her blessed memory? I could not endure +the thought of leaving her precious body here +alone. So I chose to remain. And now I send my +little girl to your care and guardianship without even +consulting you. She is amply provided for, though +the business this side of the world cannot be settled +in some time. I send her with a trusty maid and +Captain Corwin, because I do not want her to remember +the end. Some day you can tell her I am sleeping +beside her dear mother and that we are together in the +Better Land. She has been separated considerably +from me of late,—I have had to be journeying about +on business,—therefore it will not come so hard to +her, and though children do not forget, the sorrow +softens and has a tender vagueness from the hand of +time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So I give my little girl to you. If so be you +should marry and have children of your own, she will +not be crowded out, I know. In the course of years,—for +girls grow rapidly up to womanhood,—she may +love and marry. Direct her a little here and see that +no one takes her for the mere money. I want her to +know the sweetness and richness of a true satisfying +love."</p></div> + +<p>All important papers, and a sort of diary Anthony +Leverett had kept, were to come in the vessel that +would bring the little girl in the charge of Captain +Corwin.</p> + +<p>Chilian Leverett sat for a long while with the letter +in his hand, until the log broke in the middle and one +end fell over the andiron. Then he started suddenly.</p> + +<p>Had he been dreaming of the sweetness of the +woman who had so captivated his youthful fancy, +almost a dozen years agone? He never thought she +had led him astray, and had no blame for her. Perhaps +the love for her betrothed had so permeated her whole +being that she shed an exquisitely fascinating sweetness +all about. He was to her as if he had been her +betrothed's younger brother. And when the engagement +was confessed he allowed himself no reprehensible +longing for the woman so soon to be another's. All +his instincts were pure and high, perhaps rather too +idealized, though there was much strength and heroism +in the old Puritan blood. Right was right in those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +days. Lines were sharply drawn among those of the +old stock.</p> + +<p>But there had been years of what one might call +living for self, indulgence in studious habits and +tastes and the higher intellectual life, much solitary +dreaming, although he was by no means a recluse. +And to have a little girl come into his life! He would +have liked a boy better, he thought. The boy would +be out of doors, playing with mates. And now he +bethought himself how few small children there were +in his branch of the Leverett line. Some of the men +and women had not married. His brother and one +sister had died in childhood. The first cousins were +nearly all older than he, many of them had dropped +out of life. A little girl! No chance to decline the +trust—well, he would hardly have done that. He +knew Anthony Leverett had counted on a serene old +age in his native town. And he was not much past +middle life. What had befallen him?</p> + +<p>Well, there was nothing to be done. He read the +letter over again. Then he turned to some papers to +compose his mind. There was a stir in the next room, +his sleeping-chamber. He always opened the windows +and closed the door between. After the dishes were +washed and the dining-room and hall brushed up, +Elizabeth came upstairs and made the two beds. +When he had gone to Cambridge she opened the door +between. So she did not disturb him now, but crossed +the hall and inspected the two guest-chambers. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +had swept them a week or so ago and had settled in +her mind that they would do until house-cleaning time. +To be sure, if she cleaned them now they would need +it when the guests were gone. And Chilian had a +man's objection to house-cleaning. It was hardly time +to put away blankets. She wished she knew how +many guests there would be.</p> + +<p>The rooms were full of old Colonial furniture that +had been in the family for generations. Every spring +Elizabeth polished the mahogany until it shone. She +dusted now, though there was hardly a speck visible. +The snow through the winter had laid it, and the +spring rains had not allowed it to rear its head.</p> + +<p>Chilian put on his coat presently and sallied out for +his morning exercise. The family had been connected +with shipbuilding to a certain extent, and there was +the old warehouse where vessels came in with their +precious cargoes from civilized and barbaric lands. +For at the close of the Revolutionary War the men of +note, many of whom had not disdained privateering, +found themselves in possession of idle fleets, that with +their able seamen could outsail almost anything afloat. +So they struck out for new ventures in unknown seas +and new channels of trade. Calcutta, Bombay, Zanzibar, +Madagascar, Batavia, and other ports came to +know the American flag and the busy enterprising +traders.</p> + +<p>But the old Salem that was once the capital of the +state, the Salem of John Endicott and Roger Williams,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +of stern Puritanism, of terrible witchcraft horrors, and +then of the sturdy and vigorous stand in her differences +with the mother country, her patriotism through +the darkest days, was fast fading away, just as this +grand commercial epoch was destined to merge into +science and educational fame later on, and give to the +world some master spirits. But as he wended his way +hither and thither in a desultory fashion, one thought +almost like spoken words kept running through his +mind—"A little girl—a little girl in Old Salem"—for +the almost two hundred years gave her the right to +that eminence, and a little girl from a foreign land +seemed incongruous. Not but that there were little +girls in Salem, but their life-lines did not touch his. +And this one came so near, for the sake of both parents +he had loved.</p> + +<p>When he came in to dinner, he had made up his +mind to say nothing of his letter until the guests had +come and gone. He did not wish to be deluged with +questions.</p> + +<p>He hunted up Cousin Giles the next day, who was +quite a real-estate dealer, investing his own and other +people's money in sound mortgages, who had been a +widower so long that he had quite gone back to bachelorhood.</p> + +<p>And he found three Thatcher cousins—a widow, a +married one, and a single one, the youngest of the +family, but past girlhood. He was asked to take +luncheon with them and they proved quite agreeable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +and intelligent, and much pleased at the prospect of +seeing Elizabeth and Eunice Leverett.</p> + +<p>"We have been hunting up several of the Boston +relatives," said Miss Thatcher, with a kind of winsome +smile. "Cousin Giles has been a good directory. +We've kept in with so few of them. Father hunted +up some of them while he was in the Legislature, but +they are so scattered about and many of them dead. +Mother was your father's cousin, I believe."</p> + +<p>Chilian gave a graceful inclination of the head.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth and Eunice visited us years ago, along +after the war when I was first left a widow," explained +Mrs. Brent. "Henry went all through it, but +was worn out, and died in '88. But I've two nice sons, +who are a great comfort. Father was very good to +them and me. And they're both promising farmers."</p> + +<p>"I tell her that's a good deal to be thankful for," +remarked Cousin Giles.</p> + +<p>"It is indeed," commented Chilian.</p> + +<p>"And I have a lad who is all for study and wants +to come in to Harvard. He has been teaching school +this winter. His father's quite set against it, and I +don't know how it will end. He will be only nineteen +in August, and his father thinks he has a hold on him +two years longer."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Drayton looked up rather appealingly.</p> + +<p>"If his mind is made up to that, he will work his +way through," said Chilian, and he thought he should +like to know the boy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You see the next two are girls and they can't help +much about a farm. Father really needs him. And I +seem to stand between two fires. His teaching term +will end in May, but he has planned to take the school +next winter. He has made quite a bit of money."</p> + +<p>Chilian thought he would be a lad fully worth +helping, and made a mental note of it. He liked the +mother.</p> + +<p>It was settled that they would reach Salem about +noon in the stage, the only mode of conveyance, and +they parted with a pleased friendliness.</p> + +<p>Chilian rehearsed the interview at home to the great +delight of the household. Indeed, he had been very +well pleased with the prospective visitors and he felt +rather thankful for the respite from the shadow the +coming event was casting. A little girl! It did annoy +him.</p> + +<p>He did not allow it to interfere with his duties as +host, however. The three ladies had a most delightful +visit at Salem, looking up points of interest and hearing +old history concerning the Leveretts. Chilian's +father had jotted down many facts. There were seafaring +uncles, who had brought home trophies; there +were men in the family, who had died for their country +if they had not filled eminent positions; others who +had. How this branch of the family seemed to have +dwindled away!</p> + +<p>Serena Thatcher was more than pleased with her +cousin, though she felt somewhat awed by his attain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>ments +and his rather punctilious ways. Mrs. Brent +set him down as a good deal of a Miss Nancy. But +the ladies had a delightful time going over family +histories and getting relationships disentangled.</p> + +<p>When the eventful day of parting came it brought +a very real sorrow. They made promises that they +would renew their meetings and keep each other in +mind.</p> + +<p>It was Saturday evening when the Leverett household +sat around the cheerful fire in the cozy room +where the small family gathered on this evening of +the week with their work all done, after the fashion of +the past, still strictly observed by many of the older +Puritan families. The industrious ladies sat with +folded hands. Sometimes Chilian read aloud from a +volume of the divines who had finished their good +fight.</p> + +<p>This night he was gazing idly in the fire, the lines +in his face deepening now and then.</p> + +<p>"I suppose he <i>is</i> tired with all the talk, and rambles, +and confusion of the week," Elizabeth thought, stealing +furtive glances at him.</p> + +<p>He straightened himself presently and made a pretence +of clearing his throat, as an embarrassed person +often does.</p> + +<p>"I have something to tell you," he began. "I +thought I would not disturb you while our relatives +were here. We found enough to talk about;" with a +short half-laugh.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And it tired you out, I know. We live so quietly +that such an event quite upsets us," Eunice said in a +gentle, deprecating tone.</p> + +<p>"It was very pleasant," he added. "I was a good +deal interested in Anthony Drayton. But this is something +quite different. Can you recall that I had a +letter from the East Indies the morning the word +came from Cousin Giles?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes!" Elizabeth started in surprise. "I had +really forgotten about it. Business, I suppose, with +Anthony Leverett. Why, I think it is high time he +came home."</p> + +<p>Chilian sighed. "I am afraid—though I cannot see +why we should fear so much to enter the other portal, +since it is the destiny of all, and we believe in a better +world. He was hopelessly ill when he wrote and was +winding up some business matters. He is a brave man +to meet death so composedly. The only pang is parting +from his child."</p> + +<p>"Oh, his little girl! Let me see—she must be eight +or nine years old. What will become of her?"</p> + +<p>"He makes me executor and guardian of the child. +She was to start three weeks after his letter with Captain +Corwin in the <i>Flying Star</i>. That will be due, if it +meets with no mishap, from the middle to the last of +April."</p> + +<p>"But she doesn't come alone!" ejaculated Elizabeth +in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Yes. He wishes to be buried there beside his wife.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +And he does not want her to have the remembrance of +his death. So he sends her with the woman who has +been her nurse and maid the last three years, an +Englishwoman."</p> + +<p>"Of all things! I wonder what will come next! +We seem in the line of surprises. And it's queer they +should happen together. A little girl! Chilian, do +<i>you</i> like it? Why, it will fairly turn the house upside +down!"</p> + +<p>There was an accent of protest in Elizabeth's tone, +showing plainly her unwillingness to accept the +situation.</p> + +<p>"One little girl can't move much furniture about;" +with a sound of humor in his voice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you know what I mean—not actually dragging +sofas and tables about, but she will chairs, as you'll +see. And lots of other things. Look at the Rendall +children. The house always looks as if it had been +stirred up with the pudding-stick, and Sally Rendall +spends good half her time looking for things they have +carted off. Tom and Anstice were digging up the path +the day we called, and what do you suppose they had! +The tablespoons. And I'll venture to say they were +left out of doors."</p> + +<p>"There are so many of them," Chilian said, as if in +apology.</p> + +<p>"And I don't see how we can keep this child away +from them. It isn't as if they were low-down people. +Sally's father having been a major in the war, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +Rendalls are good stock. Let me see—what's her +name? Her mother was called Letty."</p> + +<p>"Cynthia. She was named for my mother." Chilian's +voice had a reverent softness in it.</p> + +<p>"I always thought it a pretty name," said Eunice.</p> + +<p>"And I've heard people call it 'Cyn.' I do abominate +nicknames."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth uttered this with a good deal of vigor. +Then she remembered she quite liked Bessy.</p> + +<p>No one spoke for some moments. Chilian thought +of the sister, whose brief married life had ended in +her pretty home at Providence, and how she looked +in her coffin with her baby sheltered by one arm. The +picture came before him vividly.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth liked cleanliness and order. It was natural +after a long practice in it. Chilian's particular +ways suited her. Year after year had settled them—perhaps +she had settled him more definitely, as he +liked the way. Eunice was thinking of the little girl +who had neither father or mother. She had some +unfulfilled dreams. In her youth there had been a +lover, and a wedding planned when he came home +from his voyage. She had begun to "lay by" for +housekeeping. And there were some pretty garments +in the trunk upstairs, packed away with other articles. +The lover was lost at sea, as befell many another New +England coast woman.</p> + +<p>She had hoped against hope for several years—men +were sometimes restored as by a miracle—but he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +never came. So she sometimes dreamed of what +might have been, of home and children, and it kept her +heart tender. Anthony's little girl would make a sight +of trouble, she could see that, but a little girl about +would be a great pleasure—to her at least. She +glanced furtively at Elizabeth, then at Chilian. She +could not comfort either of them with this sudden +glow and warmth that thrilled through her veins.</p> + +<p>"Well, we will be through with house-cleaning before +she comes," said the practical and particular +housewife. Chilian simply sighed. It was the usual +spring ordeal, and did end. But who could predict the +ending of the other?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE LITTLE GIRL</h3> + + +<p>Down at the wharf there was much bustle and stir. +Vessels were lading for various home ports, fishing +craft were going out on their ventures, even a whaler +had just fitted up for a long cruise, and the young +as well as middle-aged sailors were shouting out +farewells. White and black men were running to +and fro, laughing, chaffing, and swearing at each +other.</p> + +<p>There lay the East Indiaman, with her foreign flag +as well as that of her country. She had come in about +midnight and at early dawn preliminaries had begun. +Captain Corwin had been ashore a time or two, looking +up and down amid the motley throng, and now he +touched his hat and nodded to Chilian Leverett, who +picked his way over to him.</p> + +<p>"We are somewhat late," he began apologetically. +"A little due to rough weather, but one can never fix +an exact date."</p> + +<p>"All is well, I hope;" in an anxious tone.</p> + +<p>"Yes; the child proved a good sailor and was much +interested in everything. I was afraid she would take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +it hard. But she is counting on her father's coming. +I don't know how you will ever console her when she +learns the truth."</p> + +<p>"And he——" Chilian looked intently into the captain's +eyes.</p> + +<p>"I suppose the end has come before this. They +thought he might last a month when we left. It's sad +enough. He should have lived to be ninety. But +matters went well with him, and he has been an honest, +kindly, upright man with a large heart. I've lost +my best friend and adviser."</p> + +<p>The captain drew his rough coat-sleeve across his +face and looked past Chilian, winking hard.</p> + +<p>"There's a sight of business when we come to that, +Mr. Leverett, but now—will you go on board? The +maid is a most excellent and sensible person. They +are in the cabin."</p> + +<p>"Yes," he answered and followed with a curious +throb at his heart—pity for the orphaned child and a +sense of responsibility he was conscious that he +accepted unwillingly, yet he would do his duty to the +uttermost.</p> + +<p>Already some officials were on hand, for at this +period Salem was really a notable port. Chilian passed +them with a bow, followed the captain down the gangplank, +stared a little at the foreign deck-hands in their +odd habiliments, stepped over boxes and bales in canvas +and matting full of Oriental fragrance that from +the closeness was almost stifling, coming from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +clear air. Then he was ushered into the cabin, that +was replete with Orientalism as well.</p> + +<p>A rather tall woman rose to meet him.</p> + +<p>"This is Mistress Rachel Winn, who has mothered +the little girl for several years, Mr. Leverett, her +relative and guardian, and—Cynthia——"</p> + +<p>The child threw herself down on the couch.</p> + +<p>"I want to go back home. I want to see my father, +and Aymeer, and Babo, and Nalla. I can't stay here."</p> + +<p>"But perhaps your father will bring them when he +comes. Don't you remember he told you he lived here +when he was a little boy, and what nice times he had +with the cousin he loved? And the cousin is here to +bid you welcome. Come and speak to him. We cannot +go back at once, the ship has to unload her cargo +and take in ever so many other things. See, here is +Cousin Leverett."</p> + +<p>She sat up, made a forward movement as if she +would rise, but simply stared.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am Cousin Leverett." He began advancing +and held out his hand.</p> + +<p>"And very glad to see such an excellent traveller +as you have been," said the captain. "And such a +nice little girl. You are an American girl; you know +your father told you that. And this is your native +town. Cousin Leverett remembers you when you +were very little."</p> + +<p>"But I don't remember you;" taking no notice of +the proffered hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then you must get acquainted with me. And you +must tell me about your life and your father, whom +I have not seen in a long, long time. Let us shake +hands."</p> + +<p>She held out hers then and raised herself to her +feet.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how soft your hands are," she cried, "just +like Nalla's. But they are very white. Nalla's were +brown."</p> + +<p>"And who was Nalla?"</p> + +<p>"She used to come and play with me and make +chains out of shells, and make bracelets and anklets, +and dance. And she used to go to the Sahibs' house +and dance with snakes. I'm afraid of them. Are +you?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I am, of the large ones," he said at a +venture.</p> + +<p>He fancied that he felt a gentle pressure of sympathetic +approval. She glanced up for an instant and her +eyes transfixed him. They were a deep wonderful +blue, almost black at the pupil, then raying off a little +lighter. It made him think of a star in the winter +midnight sky with a halo around it. The lashes were +long and nearly black. Otherwise she had little claim +to beauty just then. Her complexion had a tawny hue +made by sun and wind, her hair was light, but it had +a peculiar sunburned tint, though it was fine and +abundant and hung in loose curls about her shoulders. +Her nose was the only Leverett feature—it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +straight, rather small, and had the flexibility that betrayed +passing emotions. The Leverett lips were thin, +hers were full in the middle, giving a certain roundness +to the mouth.</p> + +<p>"Are there any where you live?" hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>"Any?" Then he recalled the subject they had +touched upon. "Oh, no; you seldom see them, and +they are mostly harmless."</p> + +<p>"Have you any little girls in your house?"</p> + +<p>"No, I am sorry to say."</p> + +<p>"There were two little English girls on shipboard at +first. They went on board another vessel after a while. +I liked them very much. They knew a great many +things about countries. I can read, but I don't a great +deal. Sometimes father would tell me about America. +There are a great many countries in it, and once they +had a big war. They had wars, too, in India. Why +must people kill each other?"</p> + +<p>"There seem to be reasons. A little girl could not +understand them all, I think;" and how could he explain +them?</p> + +<p>"Oh, there is Captain Corwin!" She flew across +the cabin with outstretched arms, which she clasped +about him.</p> + +<p>"Well, have you been getting acquainted with—he +will be your uncle, I suppose. What title are you +going to take with the child, Mr. Leverett?"</p> + +<p>Chilian Leverett colored, without a cause he thought, +and it annoyed him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you going back to India to-day?" She was +not interested in Chilian Leverett's answer.</p> + +<p>Captain Corwin laughed heartily and patted her +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Not to-day, nor even next week. The cargo will +have to be taken off, little missy, and a new one +stowed away. And I fancy there must be some repairs. +I shall stay in town and run down to Marblehead. +So you will see me quite often."</p> + +<p>"And you are coming back again from India?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope so. More than once."</p> + +<p>"You will bring father then. It is such a long +while to wait;" and she sighed.</p> + +<p>The men exchanged glances.</p> + +<p>"I want to see him so much. Couldn't I go back +with you?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you remember I told you the other evening +he might start before I reached India again? Don't +you want to go ashore and see Salem? Ask Miss +Rachel to get you ready."</p> + +<p>Rachel was beckoning to her. "Let us go up on +deck," she said. "It's a strange country to me as +well as to you. And I fancy the men want to talk."</p> + +<p>She crossed the cabin slowly, not quite certain what +she did desire most, except to see her father.</p> + +<p>"You will have a rather sorry task. But Captain +Ant'ny would have it so. He wanted to feel that she +would be among friends. He had the fullest confidence +that you could manage wisely. There is a great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +box of papers, instructions, etc. You are appointed +her guardian and trustee. I've brought boxes of stuff +that the officers will have to go through. But the legal +matters you may take with you. He tried to make it +as easy as he could. She will have considerable of a +fortune, and more to come when matters get settled on +the other side. A cousin of the Bannings came out,—English +are great hands to keep things in the family. +But it is one of the biggest importing houses out there +and it owes its success to the long and wise head of +Captain Anthony. They want young Banning in it +and the matter was about settled when we came away, +but the payments will run over several years. All +these papers will be sent to you. The Bannings are +upright business men, and I think you need have no +fear. But the child's fortune is to be invested on this +side of the water. Oh, you cannot realize what a trial +it was to give up all thoughts of ending his days here."</p> + +<p>Captain Corwin brushed some tears from his honest, +weather-beaten face.</p> + +<p>"But if he had started earlier——"</p> + +<p>"He would not believe the trouble would prove +fatal. And when it was declared there was so much +to put in order. Then he could not bear to think of +leaving his wife alone there, though it's only the shell +after all, and, if we believe the Good Book, we shall +see the real part over there that was so much to us. +But he could not explain the parting to the child, +though death is such a common thing out there. Yet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +it <i>is</i> hard to believe our own can die. We are never +ready for that. How you will manage——"</p> + +<p>The customs officers had come. Captain Corwin +went out to meet them. Chilian Leverett dropped +into the well-worn leather-covered chair that had been +fine in its day. A heavy burthen had been laid upon +him. He was not fond of business. Cousin Giles +might be of some assistance; he grasped at the thought +as if he had been a drowning man and this the +straw. And the child, somehow, was different from +the average child, he felt; though he was not certain +what the average child would unfold day after day. +What would Elizabeth think? Eunice he could count +on. Though she yielded on many points in that tacit +sort of way, she was by no means an echo of her sister.</p> + +<p>The three men entered the cabin. Chilian was no +stranger to the officials, who greeted him cordially +and who sympathized with Captain Anthony Leverett's +untimely ending, as he was hardly past middle +life.</p> + +<p>"Why, it will be quite a change to have a child in +your household," said Josiah Ward. "But if she is +like mine, I advise you not to give her the run of your +study. But there are two ladies to look after her;" +and he smiled.</p> + +<p>It was surmised that Mr. Ward, a widower of two +years' standing, had glanced more than once in the +direction of Miss Eunice Leverett.</p> + +<p>Rachel came back at this juncture. The little girl<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +had an accession of shyness and would only nod to the +strangers. Then they made ready to leave the vessel. +Chilian took his japanned case of important papers; +the rest of the luggage would be sent after inspection.</p> + +<p>A primitive street it was in those days, and the fine +wharves of the present were rather rude if busy places. +Over beyond they could see the river,—South River,—and +that was alive with various small craft.</p> + +<p>"It seems almost like home," said Rachel Winn, +pausing to take a survey. "You do not find this rural +aspect in India."</p> + +<p>"How long were you there?" asked Chilian.</p> + +<p>"Seven years. I went out with my brother, who +had just married my dearest friend. He died the third +year, and she soon after married a military man. +Then I took charge of a little lame boy and was mostly +up in the mountains until he was sent to England, +when Captain Leverett's hospitable doors opened to +me. Believe me, I was sorry to leave him at this crisis. +Yet it was his wish;" and she glanced at Cynthia.</p> + +<p>"Why did we come away?" demanded the child +passionately. "Oh, Rachel, are you sure father will +come? It takes so long, so long;" and there were +tears in her voice.</p> + +<p>"Here we are!" exclaimed Chilian.</p> + +<p>There was a white picket fence across the sort of +courtyard that had a broad paved path leading up +to the front door, bordered by shrubs that would presently +be in bloom, and spaces between for smaller<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +plants. This was the delight of Eunice's heart. A +square but rather ornate porch, with fluted columns, +supporting the outer edge of the roof, and an elaborately +carved hall-door with a fanlight overhead. The +stoop stood up some five steps, and at the sides there +were benches for out-of-doors comfort on summer +nights. A brass knocker, with a lion's head, announced +visitors. Chilian, however, let himself in with +his latchkey. But both sisters met the party in the +hall.</p> + +<p>"And this is Anthony's little girl!" said Elizabeth. +"Child, let me look at you——"</p> + +<p>But the child had a perverse fit at that moment and +turned away her head, to the elder's surprise and almost +displeasure.</p> + +<p>"This is Miss Winn," interrupted Chilian. "My +household guardians and cousins, Miss Elizabeth and +Miss Eunice Leverett. I dare say our guests feel +strange to be on land, after such a long journey."</p> + +<p>"It seems almost incredible that one can stand it, +but we see them starting every few days for distant +ports. My farthest journey has been to Providence; +but, land alive! you don't know where that is, and it's +no great distance. Will you not come and have a cup +of tea or coffee?"</p> + +<p>"Thank you. We had breakfast not long ago, it +seems."</p> + +<p>"Let me take you to your room," said Eunice. +"And I hope you will soon feel at home with us.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +We are quiet people, but we shall endeavor to make +you comfortable. Cynthia, will you not shake hands +with me?"</p> + +<p>The soft, rather pleading voice attracted the child. +She glanced up shyly and then held out a tiny hand +hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>"She is rather backward at first," explained Rachel, +who followed the hostess up the broad stairway.</p> + +<p>One of the guest-chambers had been set aside for +their use after much discussion as to whether one or +two would be needed. A smaller one opened into +this, and a large closet was at the side.</p> + +<p>"You can take off your things—I suppose your +boxes, or whatever you have, will be here presently. +The bureau is empty and this chest of drawers. We +are rather old-fashioned people, and the house is the +same as it was in the time of Chilian's father. The +captain made one visit here, when the little girl was +about four. It must have been hard for him to lose +his wife in a strange country like that. I suppose there +are not many Americans?"</p> + +<p>"No; there are numbers of Englishwomen, wives of +soldiers and traders, though I think most of them long +to get home. They do not seem to take root easily."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't think they would, in that idolatrous +country. The accounts of heathendom are appalling. +And that car of Juggernaut, and drowning their poor +little babies! They do not seem to make much of girl +children."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Indeed, they do not, only as in some families they +are wanted for wives. But the devotion of mothers +to their sons is wonderful."</p> + +<p>Rachel had laid aside a silk coat that filled Eunice +with a sort of wonder, being brocaded with beautiful +leaves and roses that seemed as if they must have been +worked by hand, they stood out so clearly. The child +appeared fantastically attired to her plainer eyes, and +her slim arms were weighted with bracelets. In her +dainty ears were some splendid sapphires.</p> + +<p>"I do hope you will soon feel at home," Eunice +said from a full heart, if there was a rather awkward +feeling about it. Yet she liked Miss Winn's face. It +had a kindly and intelligent aspect and was medium in +all respects. The social lines in the town, indeed in all +the Eastern towns, were not sharply defined as to mistress +and maid. True, many households preferred +black servants; in not a few some elderly relative +looked after the household, or a bound-out girl was +trained in industrious ways.</p> + +<p>There had been some discussion as to what sphere +this Miss Winn would occupy. If she was simply the +attendant on an over-indulged child, an uneducated +person, as many of the English maids were who came +over to better their conditions or get husbands, it +might be rather awkward. But the woman was certainly +well-bred and used her English in a correct +manner.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you will get to feeling more at home if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +you come down to the sitting-room, since there is +nothing to unpack;" with a faint smile.</p> + +<p>Cynthia had been looking out of the window. +"How queer it all is!" she said. "I think I do not +quite like it. And how funny one feels. I want to go +this way;" and she swayed from side to side.</p> + +<p>"The motion of the vessel," interposed Rachel. "I +have heard it took days to get over it."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, downstairs Elizabeth had studied her +Cousin Chilian.</p> + +<p>"The child is not at all pretty," she began rather +sharply. "And her mother was considered a beautiful +young woman, I believe."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but a long voyage and shipboard living may +not be conducive to the development of beauty. And +children seldom are at that age."</p> + +<p>"The Goodell children are pretty, I am sure, with +their fine complexions. And the Bates girls. She has +a furtive sort of look. Oh, I hope she isn't deceitful +and untrue. Those heathen nations, I believe, are +given largely to falsehood, and she has lived among +them so long without any mother's care. It seems +as if a pretty girl like Alletta Orne might have found +some one at home to marry and reared her child in a +Christian land."</p> + +<p>"Do not let us begin by borrowing trouble. It +always comes fast enough."</p> + +<p>"And I can foresee that we shall have plenty of it. +Well, I suppose it must be endured. There! my bread<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +is light enough to go in the oven—running over, likely +as not."</p> + +<p>So, when they came downstairs, Miss Elizabeth was +in the kitchen, immersed in her baking interest.</p> + +<p>A large gray cat lay curled up on a cushion. Cynthia +went straight over to it, but it glanced at her with +wild eyes, jumped down, and disappeared through the +doorway.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she exclaimed in accents of disappointment, +glancing up at Chilian.</p> + +<p>"Pussy is not used to children. He always runs +away from them. But I think he will like you when +he gets acquainted."</p> + +<p>She turned to the window with a swelling heart. It +seemed so cold and strange. It was better on shipboard, +she thought. She had come to know the sailors +quite well and Missy had grown to be a great favorite +with them. There was always something cheerful +going on. They sang songs in their loud clear voices, +or whistled merry tunes. They danced as well. She +was quite used to the dancing-girls at Calcutta, and +when they were at Hong Kong or other ports. But +the Indian girls pleased her best.</p> + +<p>The sailors seemed always full of fun, even in the +worst of times. During some fearful storms she was +safely housed in the cabin, and it amused her to see the +things pitch and roll as far as their chains would allow +them. Sometimes, too, they had to hold the food in +their hands, but she never knew the danger of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +worst storms. Rachel would not admit that she was +afraid, and the captain said, "Yes, we're having a stiff +blow, but the <i>Flying Star</i> has weathered many a gale +before." And here it was so very quiet. It looked +dreary outside, with the leafless trees. She liked the +toss and tumult of the waves with their snowy, jewelled +crests, and the clouds scudding along the sky, +which she imagined was another sea full of ships. +Often they went in port and there was nothing left but +the blue sky above—a great hollow vault. And when +the sun shone the real sea and ocean was in flames of +such splendid colors. There was no end of curious +people at ports where they stopped for supplies, there +was always something strange, even when they were +days alone on the water. For the sunset and sunrise +were never twice alike. Then the moon from its tiny +crescent to the great round globe that illumined the +world with her fairy richness and scattered jewels on +every crested wave. She had watched it turn the other +way and grow smaller and smaller until you saw it +vaguely in the morning.</p> + +<p>She was so interested in the stories they told about +it, the signs and wonders they ascribed to it.</p> + +<p>"And was it ever a real world like that we have left +behind?" she asked of the captain. "Were there people +in it? And land, and rivers, and growing things, +and flowers?" and her wondering eyes grew larger.</p> + +<p>"No one can tell now. Some astronomers believe +it a burned-out world and the things we take for a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +man," laughing, "and the cow ready to jump off, are +remnants of roads, and forests, and mountains."</p> + +<p>"You <i>can</i> see the man in the moon," she returned +decisively. "Sometimes he laughs. And the cow has +great horns. I should be afraid of them if I met such +a cow. Ours are so small and tame."</p> + +<p>"You will see large ones in Salem. But I think, +for the most part, they are gentle."</p> + +<p>She never wearied talking over the strange things. +And so she came to have her head filled with wonderful +lore that indeed cropped out now and then all her +life long until she felt as if she had really been in +fairyland.</p> + +<p>It seemed stranger here than on shipboard. The +others were going through the ceremony of getting +acquainted. Rachel Winn's voice had a soft sound, +with an almost foreign accent. Eunice's, though +low-pitched, had a clear resonance. Now and then +Chilian Leverett made a comment, or asked a question, +but she was not heeding them. Her heart and +mind had wandered back to her father and that wonderful +land where nothing ever seemed bleak, though +in long hot droughts it was arid. But there were always +temples, and palaces, and picturesque huts, and +women and children in gay attire, old men kneeling +somewhere, praying but keeping a sharp lookout for +alms.</p> + +<p>Chilian Leverett had been watching the small face +and wondering at the changes passing over it. Now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +he saw some tears slowly coursing down the pale +cheeks, and his heart was moved with infinite pity.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a robin alighted on the limb of a tree and +began picking at the buds. Then he held his head up +straight, swelled out his brownish red breast, and +poured forth such a volume of melody that the effort +fairly made him dance with joy. Spring had surely +come! It was the time of love and joy, and all things +made over new.</p> + +<p>She turned a trifle. Her face was transfigured with +delight. Her eyes shone, though the tears were still +wet on her cheek.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>A STRANGER, YET AT HOME</h3> + + +<p>Rachel Winn settled herself to the new order of +things more readily than the Leveretts. Or rather +she seemed to take the lead in arrangements for herself +and her charge. She was after all a sort of nurse +and waiting-maid, though she had a fine dignity about +it that even Elizabeth could not gainsay. She was to +be one of the family, there could be no objection to +that in the simple New England living. Though it +was true, times were changing greatly since the days +of war and privation, and perhaps the mingling of +people from other states, the growing responsibility +of being part of a great commonwealth. Servants +were being relegated to a different position. Boston +in a certain fashion set the pace, though Salem held +up her head proudly. Were not her seaports the busy +mart of the Eastern shore? Stores of finery, silks +and laces, and marvellous Indian embroidery went +down to Boston and the houses were enriched with +choice china that in the next hundred years was +to be handed down as heirlooms. Fine houses were +being built, choice woods came from southern ports +by vessels that believed they could find fortunes nearer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +home than China or India. But they could grow no +spices, or coffees, or teas, and they must come from +the Orient. No looms could turn out such exquisite +fabrics as yet, though housewives were to be proud of +their home-made drapery for a generation or two.</p> + +<p>Chilian spent a large part of that first night inspecting +his box of papers. There was a journal-like +letter in which Anthony Leverett had jotted down +many things he hardly dared say in his letter; indeed, +there was not sufficient space. As soon as he had +learned the serious nature of his disease, he had begun +to put his house in order and consider the future welfare +of his child. Some lines touched Chilian deeply, +the trust and dependence he was not at all sure he +could fulfil, but he felt he <i>must</i> rouse himself to the +earnest endeavor. The father had a passionate love +for his child, he was making a fortune for her, counting +the years when he should return and have a home +of his own, when Cynthia would grow up and marry +and there would be grandchildren to climb his knees. +India was no place for a woman child to grow up in, +there were no chances for education or accomplishment, +and next to no society. After all there was not, +and never would be, such a country as the new world +that had struggled so long and bravely for her independence, +and now had only to go on developing her +grand theories. Crowned heads might look on doubtingly, +but the foundation had been laid in justice and +truth and equality of right. It quite thrilled him that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +this man, amassing money in a far-away land, could see +so clearly and have no doubts about its future greatness.</p> + +<p>To Captain Corwin, his good, trusty friend, he had +willed half the value of the <i>Flying Star</i>. The money +from his part was to be invested, as the payments came +in, in real estate in Salem, which was to be the shipping +mart of the New England coast, at least, and run a +race with New York, he thought. So with the stations +at Calcutta and Hong Kong in the hands of the +Bannings. And there were treasures that would answer +for a wedding dowry when the time came. If +possible, he would like Rachel Winn retained; he had +the highest confidence in her, and she had no relatives +to call her back to England. He had given her much +of the family history, and described the town and the +people, so that it would not seem so new and strange +to her.</p> + +<p>He was not asking all this as a favor. Chilian was +touched by the provision made for himself, which it +would be quite impossible to decline, he saw. True it +would break in upon his leisurely, student life, yet he +felt he could not in honor refuse to accept the trust.</p> + +<p>Rachel Winn studied the arrangements of the rooms +at their disposal. Her young mistress was not a child +taken out of benevolence or relationship. She must +have her standing from the very beginning, and she +fancied Elizabeth was inclined to consider her a sort +of interloper.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If it makes no difference, I will take the small +room," she announced to her. "There are some pieces +of furniture on the vessel that Captain Leverett particularly +wished her to keep, and as she grows older +she will cherish them——"</p> + +<p>"That great room for such a child!" In her +amazement, Elizabeth spoke without thought. She +was not used to seeing children set in the very forefront. +In her day, indeed, yet in some families the large +open garret was considered the place for children.</p> + +<p>"You see, she was used to it at home—over there, +I mean;" with a nod of the head. "Her father's +room was one side, mine on the other. Of course, +in a way I shall share it with her. I will keep it in +order and look after her clothes, and sew for her. But +I prefer the smaller one."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth was aghast. One of the best spare chambers, +with the furnishings that had come from England +a hundred years before. On the other side she and +Eunice shared a plainly appointed room with some of +their very own belongings. There was still another, +but the closet was small. She had asked Chilian +where they should be placed and he had chosen this. +It was his house, of course——</p> + +<p>Whether it would have ended in a discussion could +not to be told, for at that moment a dray drove up +with some boxes and a piece of furniture so wrapped +and protected that it was quite impossible to guess at +its name.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>Chilian came out and ran lightly down the stairs; +and then called Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"Where had the boxes better go? They will have +to be unpacked, I suppose;" helplessly.</p> + +<p>"There are more to come," announced the man. +"Enough to set up housekeeping, if the right sort of +things are in them;" and he gave a short laugh.</p> + +<p>Miss Winn came downstairs. "Isn't there a garret +to the house?" she asked, looking from one to the +other. "I packed them up, but I can hardly tell——"</p> + +<p>"Yes; we could store half the vessel's contents in it. +Well, not exactly that. A ship's hold is a capacious +place. Yes, the boxes might go there. Have you any +idea what this is?"</p> + +<p>"A sort of desk and bookcase. A very handsome +thing the captain set great store by."</p> + +<p>The men shouldered the boxes and Elizabeth convoyed +them. Silas was spading up the garden and +came at the call.</p> + +<p>It was a work of some labor to get the article out +of its secure casings. It disclosed a very handsome +piece of furniture in the escritoire style, carved and +inlaid not only with beautiful woods, but much silver. +Chilian surveyed it with admiration.</p> + +<p>"That must stand in the parlor," he decided. "But +some one must come and help. I'm afraid I am not +sufficiently robust. Silas, see if you can't find the Uphams' +man. He was working there a short time ago."</p> + +<p>"If there's more to come, it is hardly worth while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +to clear up," began Elizabeth. "I hope it will soon +follow."</p> + +<p>Chilian directed the two men, who found it still +quite a burthen. Elizabeth opened the parlor shutter +unwillingly, and the men set it in the middle of the +floor.</p> + +<p>There were two large rooms held almost sacred by +both sisters. They were separated by an archway, apparently +upheld on each end by a fluted column. Both +rooms had a wide chimney-piece, the mantel and its +supports elaborately carved and painted white. Two +windows were in each end, draped with soft crimson +curtains. The floor was polished, with a rug laid +down in the centre. It was furnished in a manner that +would have delighted a connoisseur, but Elizabeth did +not admire the conglomeration. They were family +relics and seemed to have little relation with one +another, yet they were harmonious. There was a thin-legged +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'spinnet'">spinet</ins>, with a Latin legend running across the +front of the cover, which was always down. The +chairs were not made for lounging, that was plain; +and the sofa, with its rolling ends and claw feet, had +been polished until the haircloth looked like satin. A +dead and gone Leverett bride had imported that from +London.</p> + +<p>When the East Indian article had been consigned to +an appropriate space, it looked as much at home as if +it had lived there half a century. Then the parlor was +shut up again, the mat in the hall shaken out, the front<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +door bolted. Miss Winn had asked for a hammer and +chisel that she might open one of the boxes.</p> + +<p>"Take Silas. That is a man's work," said Chilian.</p> + +<p>Cynthia was in the sitting-room, where it was still +chilly enough to have a fire. Eunice was knotting +fringe for a bedspread, and it interested the child wonderfully. +She was not a little shocked to find a child +of nine knew nothing about sewing, had never hemmed +ruffles, nor done overseam, or knit, or it seemed anything +useful.</p> + +<p>"Why, when I was a little girl of your age I could +spin in the little wheel."</p> + +<p>"What did you spin?"</p> + +<p>"Why, thread, of course, linen thread made from +flax."</p> + +<p>"Were you a truly little girl?" in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Why, child, don't you know anything?" Then +Miss Eunice laughed softly and patted the small +shoulder, looking kindly into the wondering eyes. +There was no hurt in her tone and the words rather +amused.</p> + +<p>"I know a great many things. I can read some +Latin, and I know about Greece and its splendid +heroes who conquered a good deal of the world. +There was Alexander the Great and Philip of Macedon. +And Tamerlane, who conquered nearly all Asia. +And—and Confucius, the great man of China, who +was a wise philosopher, and wrote a bible——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; not a bible!" interrupted Miss Eunice,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +horrified. "There is only one Bible, my dear, and +that is the Word of God."</p> + +<p>"But the other is the bible of the Chinese, and some +of them believe Confucius was a god."</p> + +<p>"That is quite impossible, my dear;" in a rather +decisive, but still gentle tone.</p> + +<p>"And there is Brahma, and Vishnu, and there are +ever so many gods in India. The people pray to them. +And temples. When they want anything very much, +they go and pray for it. There was a woman whose +little son was very ill, and if he lived he was going to +be a great prince, or something, and she gathered up +her precious stones and her necklace and took them to +the temple for the god. Father sent an English doctor, +but they wouldn't let him see the little boy. He +was so pretty, too. I used to see him in the court."</p> + +<p>"And did he live?" Miss Eunice asked, much interested.</p> + +<p>"No; he didn't. And the father beat her for losing +the jewels."</p> + +<p>"You see, those gods have no power."</p> + +<p>"Did you ever pray for anything you wanted very +much?"</p> + +<p>Cynthia's bright eyes studied the placid face before +her.</p> + +<p>"Yes," the lips murmured faintly.</p> + +<p>"And did you get it?"</p> + +<p>A flush stole over the puzzled countenance.</p> + +<p>"My dear, God doesn't see as we do. And He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +knows what is best for us, and gives us that. Maybe +our prayer wasn't right."</p> + +<p>"How can you tell when a prayer is right or +wrong?" inquired the young theologian.</p> + +<p>"Why, you have to leave that to God;" in a low, +resigned tone.</p> + +<p>"I didn't want to come here. I wanted to stay with +father. I didn't know there was any one beside, and +I do not believe any one will ever love me so well. But +he promised to come when the business was all done. +So I prayed to the God of father's Bible, and I went +to the temple with Nalla and put down a half-crown—it +was all the money I had. But"—her eyes filled +with tears and her voice had a break in it—"father +begged so, and I came. But if Captain Corwin does +not bring him next time I shall go back. I can't live +without him."</p> + +<p>The mild blue eyes of Miss Eunice filled with tears +as well. She was not sure this had been the wisest +course. The absolute truth was always best. But she +temporized also in a vague fashion.</p> + +<p>"Yes; you can tell then. And you may come to +like us so well you may stay content."</p> + +<p>"Oh, if he comes! Then it will be all right. And +you think I ought to pray for that?"</p> + +<p>It was a cruel strait for Miss Eunice and staggered +her faith. She was not to lead astray or harm "one +of the least of these." But the child <i>was</i> a heathen +with no real knowledge of the true God. Like a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +vision almost, Miss Eunice looked back at her own +childhood, and the awful, overshadowing power she +believed was God, who wrote down every wicked +thought and wrong deed, and would confront her +with them at the Judgment Day. She prayed nightly, +often in the night, when she woke up, and she was no +surer of God's love than this little heathen child.</p> + +<p>"It is right to pray for the things we want, but to be +resigned if God doesn't see fit to give them to us."</p> + +<p>"Then the prayers are thrown away. And do you +know just what God is?"</p> + +<p>"My dear!" in a shocked tone, "no one can tell. +It is one of the mysteries to be revealed when we see +Him as He truly is at the last day. A little girl cannot +understand it. I do not, and I have sought the +truth many years. Now I am trusting, because I +feel assured He will do what is right. Tell me something +about your life with your father."</p> + +<p>"Oh, things were so different there. Houses, and +there were always servants, so you didn't ever need +to fan yourself. Babo and Nalla were always about. +Babo used to take me out in a chair that had curtains +around and a big umbrella overhead. Sometimes +Chandra went with him. And the streets were funny +and crooked, and houses set anywhere in them. I +liked going up in the mountains best, it wasn't so hot. +And the trees were splendid, and beautiful vines and +flowers of all sorts. Mrs. Dallas went the last time. +She had two girls and a big boy. I did not like him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +He would pinch my arms and then say he didn't. I +liked the girls, one was larger than I. And we swung +in the hammocks the vines made. Only I was afraid +of the snakes, and there are so many everywhere. +Alfred liked to kill them."</p> + +<p>She shuddered a little and glanced about the room +with dilated eyes.</p> + +<p>"They come into your houses sometimes. Nalla +used to catch them and sling them hard on the ground, +and that stunned them. And we used to make wreaths +of the beautiful flowers. Agnes Dallas knew so many +stories about fairies, little people who come out at +night, when the moon shines, and dance round in +rings. They slip in houses, and the nice ones do some +work, but the wicked ones sour the milk, and spoil the +bread, and hide things. And, sometimes, they change +children into a cat, or a rabbit, or something, and it +is seven years before you can get your own shape +again. Do you have them here?"</p> + +<p>"There is no such thing. That is all falsehood," +was the decisive comment.</p> + +<p>"But—Agnes knew of their coming. And she had +seen them dancing on the grass. But if you speak or +go near them, they disappear."</p> + +<p>Miss Winn came out to the sitting-room.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are here," she said. "I thought you were +out of doors. You ought to take a run. What a +wonderful garret you have upstairs, Miss Eunice. +But I am afraid we shall fill it up sadly. There were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +so many things to bring. I do not believe we shall +find use for half of them. I want a few mouthfuls of +fresh air. I suppose I can walk up the street without +danger of getting lost if I turn square around when I +return? Don't you want to come, Cynthia?"</p> + +<p>Cynthia was ready.</p> + +<p>"You had better wrap up warm. It gets chilly +towards night."</p> + +<p>"It was a long stretch on shipboard. We stopped +at several ports, however. But I am glad to be on +solid ground. Come, child."</p> + +<p>She had brought down a wrap and hood. Cynthia +was glad of something new, though she liked Miss +Eunice.</p> + +<p>They turned a rather rounding corner and went +on to a sort of market-place, where sweepers were +gathering up the débris after the day's sales. They +glanced about the city. Salem had made rapid strides +since the grand declaration of peace, but at the end of +the century it was far from the grandeur the next +twenty years would give it.</p> + +<p>"There are no palaces and no temples," said Cynthia, +rather complainingly. "And how white all the +people are. Do you suppose they have been ill?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; they have been housed up during the +winter, and the climate is cold. And, you know, they +are of a different race. This part, New England, was +settled mostly from old England."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to like it, Rachel?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why—I don't quite know. You can't tell at once +about a strange place."</p> + +<p>"Miss Eunice is nice. But she has some queer +ideas."</p> + +<p>"Or is it a little girl, named Cynthia Leverett, who +has queer ideas that she has brought largely from a +far-off country?"</p> + +<p>The child laughed. Then she saw some girls and +boys playing tag in the street, laughing and squealing +when they were caught, or when they narrowly missed. +And some empty carts went rattling by, with now and +then a stately coach, or a man on horseback, attired in +the fashion of the times. The sun suddenly dropped +down.</p> + +<p>"We had better turn about," declared Miss Winn. +"It will not do to be late for supper."</p> + +<p>The walk had not been straight, but her gift of +locality was good. They passed the market-place +again, made the winding turn, and found the lighted +lamps gave the house a cheerful aspect.</p> + +<p>Miss Eunice had put away her knotting and begun +to lay the cloth when Elizabeth entered, her face +clouded over.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't see why Providence should send +this avalanche upon us to destroy our peace and comfort," +she began almost angrily. "The Thatchers' +visit was pleasant, though that made a sight of clearing +up afterward. And we had hardly gotten over +that when this must happen. I was going to put that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +white quilt in the frame, but the garret will be turned +upside down for no one knows how long! Such a +mess of stuff, and more coming. There's enough in +this house without any more being added to it."</p> + +<p>"But it was natural Captain Anthony should want +his child to have something belonging to him, maybe +her mother, too. And goodness knows there's room +enough in the garret. It isn't half full with his traps, +and there's some of ours. And there's the loft over +the kitchen."</p> + +<p>"Well, we want some place to dry clothes in rainy +weather. And when I sweep I want to move things +about, not sweep just in front of them, and have the +dust settle in rows behind. Chilian didn't know what +a lot there would be, though he might have looked it +over on the ship. When it is all through, the house +will need a thorough cleaning again. And what <i>do</i> +you think, Eunice! She's going to put the child in +that big bed and she sleep in the little one! The best +room in the house! I'm sorry they have it."</p> + +<p>Eunice was roused a little.</p> + +<p>"That doesn't seem the proper thing. But maybe +she thought—I do suppose the child has had the best +of everything."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe in pampering children. And I +don't altogether like the woman. I do wonder if we +will have to keep her. A girl of nine is old enough +to look after herself, and begin to keep her own +clothes and her room in order."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's been very different out in India. And I do +suppose Anthony was over-indulgent, she having no +mother to train her."</p> + +<p>"We'll have our hands full, Eunice, when the tussle +really begins."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I do not think she will be hard to manage. +She seems rather shy——"</p> + +<p>"Those eyes of hers ain't so deep for nothing. She +hasn't the Leverett mouth, and those full lips are wilful +and saucy, generally speaking. Letty Orne was +a pretty girl, as I remember. Strange, now, when you +come to think of it, that the child should have been +born in this house. But she'll never have any beauty +to spare, that's certain. For the land sakes, Eunice, +look at the time and you dawdling over the table. +I'm tired as a dog after a long race."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth dropped into a chair. In her secret heart +Eunice knew that when her sister was tired out she +was fractious; she loved her too well to say cross +words.</p> + +<p>"Shall we have fish or cold meat?" she asked +mildly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't care! Well, fish. There will be meat +enough for to-morrow's dinner if it isn't meddled +with."</p> + +<p>The fish was salted down in the season, soaked a +little, laid in spiced vinegar for a few hours, cut in +thin slices, and was very appetizing. Eunice went +about with no useless flutter, she stepped lightly and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +never made any clatter with dishes. The tea china, +thin and lovely, the piles of white bread and brown, +molasses gingerbread and frosted sugar cake, stewed +dried fruit and rich preserves, made an inviting-looking +table. Chilian came in and made himself neat, as +usual, then the guests.</p> + +<p>Cynthia was very quiet. Twice Miss Winn answered +a question for her. She scarcely ate anything. +Then she said wearily:</p> + +<p>"I am so tired and sleepy. Can't I go to bed?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>UNWELCOME</h3> + + +<p>Miss Winn and her charge went down to the ship the +next morning with Chilian Leverett. Elizabeth inspected +the rooms. She was not meddlesome, nor +over-curious generally, but with a feeling of possessorship +and responsibility in the house, she wanted to +know how far she could trust the newcomers. The +beds were well made, but closets and drawers were +rather awry. She did begrudge the best chamber, +and wondered whether it would not be possible to +change them about presently. True, they seldom had +guests.</p> + +<p>Then a new load of boxes came, with two trunks, +and several more pieces of furniture. The latter were +left standing in the hall. The garret had been a sort +of fetich with Elizabeth. There were dried herbs +hanging to the rafters in their muslin bags, so as not +to make a litter and mostly for the fragrance. There +was not a cobweb anywhere. On one side of the sloping +roof were ranged their own trunks and chests, two +of cedar, in which woollen clothes and blankets passed +the summer, securely hidden from moths. In one +gable were miscellaneous household articles, a few<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +chairs good enough to be repaired, a more than +century-old cherry table, spinning-wheels, a bedstead +piled high with a feather bed, and numberless pillows, +for Elizabeth thought it her duty to make a new pair +every year, as they kept a flock of geese that spent +their days in a small cove on South River.</p> + +<p>The interloper boxes could make a row down the +cleared side. That left the centre, the highest part, +clear for drying clothes, which probably would not be +needed until winter. But careful Elizabeth planned +ahead for every emergency. True, the emergency did +not always fit the plans, but it gave her tense spirit a +rest.</p> + +<p>The Salem air was fragrant, with all manner of +sweet springtime odors—the ship was not. Things +that had been stored in the hold came up with a certain +old smell and a little mustiness. First, Cynthia held +her nose and made a wry face. But it was delightful +to run about and exchange greetings with the sailors, +who seemed merry enough over their work.</p> + +<p>"Well, missy," said the captain, catching her in his +arms as she ran, "how do you like living on dry land? +You haven't lost your sea legs yet, that's plain."</p> + +<p>"It's very queer. There are just tiny leaves coming +out on the trees, and a few curious white flowers, little +bells, coming up in the garden, and crocus in pretty +colors. But I don't like it very much. Miss Eunice is +nice and has such a soft voice. And the houses are so +funny and shut up, and there are no servants about,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +nor any one praying on the corners and holding out a +basin for rice; and no piles of fruit for sale."</p> + +<p>"No; this isn't the time of year for fruit;" and +there was a funny twinkle in the captain's eye. "Just +wait until August and September."</p> + +<p>Cynthia considered. "That is three and four +months away. Father will be here then;" with a +child's confidence.</p> + +<p>"And there are berries earlier, and cherries, and +then some sugar pears. Oh, you will be feasted. And +you'll like Cousin Leverett, when you come to get acquainted +with him. You will go to school, too, and +know lots of little girls. You won't want to go back +to India."</p> + +<p>"Unless father shouldn't come. Oh, he surely will, +because, you see, I'm praying ever so many times a +day."</p> + +<p>"That's right;" with a cheerful nod.</p> + +<p>"When are you going back?"</p> + +<p>"In about a month, I calculate."</p> + +<p>She sighed and looked out over the great stretch of +waters. "What is that long point down there?" she +asked suddenly.</p> + +<p>"That's Salem Neck, and there is Winter Island. +They are always building ships down there and turn +out some mighty fine ones. And fishing; there's a +sight of cod, and haddock, and mackerel, and all the +other fish in season. They salt them and take them +half over the world. And there's a rope-walk you'd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +enjoy seeing, leastways you would if you were a boy. +And there are some stores. We have lots of goods +consigned to the Merrits. Salem's a big place, now I +tell you!"</p> + +<p>"Bigger than Calcutta?"</p> + +<p>"Sho' now! Calcutta can't hold a candle to it."</p> + +<p>The captain's cabin was being dismantled for repairs +and cleaning. She glanced in it. How many +days she had spent here! Everything was in disorder, +yet there was a certain home remembrance that +touched the child's heart, and brought tears to her +eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, are you here?" It was Chilian Leverett's +voice, and he held out his hand. She looked so bright +now and there was a little color in her cheeks, an +eager interest about her. He was afraid she was +going to be a rather dull child.</p> + +<p>"Yes; it's almost like home, you know; only when +we lived here it wasn't so topsy-turvy."</p> + +<p>"Did you feel queer when you woke up this morning?" +thinking it his duty to smile.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I didn't know where I was. It seemed as if +I was being smothered in something. And it didn't toss +and rock. Oh, there were some birds singing." She +laughed gleefully. "Then I saw Rachel, and it came +to me in little bits, but it seems such a long, long +while since yesterday morning."</p> + +<p>"Where is Miss Winn? I want to see her a +moment."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She has been looking over some things as they +came up from the hold," said the captain. "Oh, here +she is!"</p> + +<p>Chilian took her aside for a moment. It was necessary +for him to go in to Boston and he wanted to +make a few suggestions, so that any of Elizabeth's +strictures might not offend. He began to perceive the +child and her attendant were not exactly welcome +guests.</p> + +<p>"How long do you suppose she will stay?" Elizabeth +had asked of him rather sharply. "For, when we +are once settled, I do not think there will be any real +necessity for keeping Miss Winn."</p> + +<p>She had been considering it at intervals through +the night, and was impatient for what she called an +understanding.</p> + +<p>Chilian had often given in to her on points that did +not really affect him. He hated to bicker with any +one, especially women.</p> + +<p>"My dear Elizabeth," he began, "the child has been +consigned to my charge until she comes of age. I +should not have chosen the guardianship, but it seems +there is no other relative who can attend to all matters +as well. She is to be no dependent, only for whatever +love we choose to give her. Anthony has made an +ample allowance for her, indeed such a generous one +that it irks me to accept it. If it makes too much +work for you and Eunice, we will have some help. +Miss Winn is to look after her, that was her father's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +wish; so there will be no change. Of course, it alters +our quiet mode of living, but perhaps we were getting +in too much of a rut and needed some shaking up;" +smiling gravely. "Try and make it as comfortable +for them as you can. There is plenty of room in the +house for us all."</p> + +<p>Then there was nothing before them but acceptance. +In a way she had known it, but there was a vague idea +seething in her mind that if the maid could be dismissed, +she and her sister could train the child in a +better manner, and instil some Salem virtues in her +that yet held a little of the old Puritanic leaven; like +industry, economy, forethought. She still believed in +the strait and narrow pathway.</p> + +<p>That Chilian should take the matter so philosophically +<i>did</i> surprise her. To him there seemed something +so pitiful in the hope held out to the little girl, +yet after all could it have been managed any more +wisely? She would not know what the acute pang +of death was. And her longing would become less, +there would be a vagueness in her sorrow that would +help to heal it. This would be her home. He had +been living all these years for himself, was it not time +that he espoused some other motive? That he began +to be of real service?</p> + +<p>He finished his talk with Miss Winn. Cynthia +was hopping over some coils of cable, and +he watched her agile, graceful movements, half +smiling.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come and tell me good-bye," he said, holding out +his hand. "I am going in to Boston."</p> + +<p>"In a vessel?"</p> + +<p>"No; though I suppose that would be possible. I +am late for the stage, and must go on horseback."</p> + +<p>"Where is Boston?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, some eighteen miles—rather southerly. It is +a big city, and the capital."</p> + +<p>"When are you coming back?" with a daintily anxious +air.</p> + +<p>"Oh, by supper-time."</p> + +<p>"Well;" nodding.</p> + +<p>"What shall I bring you?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all. We have twice too much now, +Rachel says. Only—be sure to come back."</p> + +<p>"If I did not, what then?"</p> + +<p>"If you did not come back, I should go to India +with Captain Corwin. I like Miss Eunice a little, but +your other lady doesn't want me," she replied with a +frankness that was amusing, it was so free from +malice.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye until to-night, then."</p> + +<p>She put her hand in his. Then she reached up tiptoe. +"Kiss me," she said. "Father always did and +he said, 'Be a good girl.'"</p> + +<p>"Be a good girl." Chilian kissed the soft red lips +and then went his way. There was not much caressing +in the restrained New England nature of that day, +especially among those who had grown up with few<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +family ties. His mother had died while he was yet +quite a boy.</p> + +<p>"Let us go back now," said Rachel presently. "I +believe I have found all our goods. Miss Leverett will +be appalled."</p> + +<p>The child repeated the word. "What does it +mean?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Astonished, surprised."</p> + +<p>"Why, <i>they</i> have a houseful of things;" in protest.</p> + +<p>"Then there is the less room for ours."</p> + +<p>"But there is ever so much room in the garret."</p> + +<p>"I almost wish we were going to live by ourselves +in a little house, like some we saw yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Who would cook the dinner and wash the +dishes?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I could;" laughing.</p> + +<p>"Only us two? It would be lonesome."</p> + +<p>"We are not likely to."</p> + +<p>"Don't go straight home. Let us find the market +again. I didn't half see it last night."</p> + +<p>"It wasn't night exactly. Yes—we must learn to +find our way about, for we cannot stay in all the time. +This is Essex Street. Let us turn here."</p> + +<p>The market was in its glory this morning. The +stalls were ornamented with branches of evergreens, +the floors sifted over with sawdust. There were vegetables +and meats, but no great variety. There was +no sunny south, no swift train to send in delicious +luxuries. The cold storage of that day was being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +buried in pits and being brought out to light as occasion +required.</p> + +<p>There were other stalls, with various household +stores. Iron-holders, tin kettles, whiskbrooms, pins +(which were quite a luxury), crockery ware even. +Wagons had come in from country places and customers +were thronging about them.</p> + +<p>The people interested Miss Winn, and the chaffering, +the beating down in prices, was quite amusing. +Here a woman was measuring some cotton goods from +her chin to the ends of her fingers; here sat a cobbler +doing odd jobs while some one waited. Altogether it +was very entertaining, and it was dinner-time when +they reached home.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Leverett has gone to Boston," announced +Miss Leverett. "We must have our dinner without +him."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he was down on the ship," said Miss Winn. +"Do you often go to Boston?"</p> + +<p>"I am much too busy to be gadding about," returned +Elizabeth sharply; "though we have connections +there, and I once spent several years in the +city."</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose it is at all like London. Eastern +cities are so different—and dirty," she added.</p> + +<p>"Boston is very nice, quite a superior place, but we +do not consider it much above Salem," Miss Elizabeth +said, with an air. "We have nearly all of the East +India trade. To be sure, there is Harvard at Cam<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>bridge, +and that calls students and professors. Cousin +Chilian is a graduate. He could have been an accepted +professor if he had chosen."</p> + +<p>Then the conversation languished. They were +hardly through dinner when the next relay of goods +arrived.</p> + +<p>"Cynthia's desk must go upstairs, I suppose. Her +father had it made for her birthday. Will Silas unpack +again? There is a small cabinet of teakwood +that is beautifully carved. If you could find room in +the parlor for that. There were many other fine pieces +that will no doubt be sold, and it seems a great pity."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth acquiesced rather frigidly, adding, "It is +fortunate the house is large, but one seems to accumulate +a good deal through generations."</p> + +<p>Cynthia went up in the garret with Miss Winn and +was full of interest over the old Leverett treasures. +Here was the cradle in which Leverett babies had been +rocked, an old bit of mahogany nearly black with age.</p> + +<p>"How funny!" cried Cynthia, springing into it, +and making a clatter on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Don't, dear! Miss Elizabeth may not like it," +said Miss Winn.</p> + +<p>"As if I should hurt it!" indignantly.</p> + +<p>"It is not ours."</p> + +<p>"But we sit on their chairs, and sleep in their beds, +and eat at their table," returned the child. "Do you +suppose they do not want us?"</p> + +<p>"Our coming is Mr. Leverett's affair, and he is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +your guardian, so whatever home he provides is +right."</p> + +<p>"Well, we can have a home of our own when +father comes?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; when he comes."</p> + +<p>"Well, then I shall not mind;" decisively.</p> + +<p>Still she peered about among the old things. There +were some iron fire-dogs, a much-tarnished frame, +with a cracked glass that cut her face in a grotesque +fashion, old dishes and kitchen furniture past using, +or that had been supplanted by a newer and better +kind.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! this is an undertaking!" declared Miss +Winn, with a sigh. "I do not believe you will ever +use half these things; there are stuffs enough to dress +a queen."</p> + +<p>It was beginning to grow dusky before she was +through, though the sky was overcast, and there would +be no fine sunset. Indeed, the wind blew up stormily. +Cynthia had been viewing the place from the windows +in the four gables, though she had to stand on a box. +There were South River and the Neck and the shipping—the +men, hurrying to and fro, looking so much +smaller that it puzzled Cynthia. And there was North +River winding about, and over beyond the great ocean +she had crossed. There was old St. Peter's Church, +the new one was not built until long afterward, and +smaller places of worship. There was the small beginning +of things to be famous later on.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>The wind began to whistle about and it grew +cool, so they were glad to go down to the cheerful +sitting-room, where a fire was blazing on the +hearth.</p> + +<p>"We shall have a storm to-night," said Miss Eunice, +"our three days' storm that usually makes its +appearance about this time. Didn't you 'most perish +upstairs? And what did you find to interest you?"</p> + +<p>Cynthia had brought a stool and sat close to Miss +Eunice, leaning one arm on her knee.</p> + +<p>"Oh, so many queer things. You don't mind if I +call them queer, do you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; they <i>are</i> queer. And when we are dead +and gone some one will call ours queer, no doubt. +But we haven't many. When father died we were +on a farm just out of Marblehead. Things were +mostly sold at a vendue, for the two boys were going +in the army. That was back in '78. Mother and we +two girls went to her mother's at Danvers. Elizabeth +took up sewing, but there were hard times, for +the war stretched out so long, and it did seem as if the +Colonies would never gain their cause. But they did. +Brother Linus was killed, and later on I had a dear +friend lost at sea. Mother died, and we were sort of +scattered about till we came here. Cousin Chilian was +very good to us. So you see we haven't much to leave, +but then we haven't any descendant;" and she gave +a soft little laugh. "Elizabeth has mother's gold +comb, set with amethysts, and a brooch, and I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +the string of gold beads and some rings. A cousin in +London sent them to grandmother."</p> + +<p>"Eunice, you might set the table," said Elizabeth, +rather sharply. "I'm making some fritters. They +will taste good this cold night."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't I help?" asked Rachel.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you must be tired enough without doing any +more. It's a good thing you have all your belongings +housed. The garret doesn't leak."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am thankful. I really did not think there +was so much."</p> + +<p>There was a savory fragrance in the sitting-room. +Chilian came in, looking weary with his long ride.</p> + +<p>"It is almost wintry cold," he said, holding his +hands to the fire. "Have you had a nice day, little +girl?"</p> + +<p>"Yes;" glancing up with a smile.</p> + +<p>They did justice to Bessy's nice supper. Chilian +had seen Cousin Giles, who sent remembrances to +them all, and was coming up some day to see Letty +Orne's little girl. Chilian found there was a good deal +of business to do. For a while his days of leisure and +ease would be over.</p> + +<p>Then he brought out a Boston paper and read them +some of the news. Miss Eunice went on with her +fringe. Elizabeth was knitting a sock for Chilian out +of fine linen yarn, spun by herself, and she put pretty +open-work stitches all up the instep. For imported +articles were still dear, and there was a pride in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +women to do all for themselves that they could. +Cynthia leaned her head on Rachel's lap and went +asleep.</p> + +<p>"Do hear that rain! The storm has begun in good +earnest."</p> + +<p>It was rushing like a tramp of soldiers, flinging +great sheets against the closed shutters, and the wind +roared in the chimney like some prisoned spirit.</p> + +<p>"Wake up, Cynthia, and say good-night."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth watched the child. Her theory was that +children should be put to bed early and not allowed +to lie around on any one's lap. There was always a +tussle of wills when you roused them. She drew herself +up with a kind of severe mental bracing and +awaited the result, glad Chilian was there.</p> + +<p>Rachel toyed with the hair, patted the soft flushed +cheek, and took the hands in hers.</p> + +<p>"Cynthia," she said gently, "Cynthia, dear, wake +up."</p> + +<p>The child roused, opened her eyes. "I'm so tired," +she murmured. "Will we never be done crossing the +wide, wide ocean? And where is Salem?"</p> + +<p>"We are there, dear, safe and housed from the +storm. You have been asleep on my knee. Come to +bed now. Say good-night."</p> + +<p>She stood the little girl up on her feet and put one +arm around her.</p> + +<p>It was against Elizabeth Leverett's theories that any +child should go off peaceably, with no snarling protest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +Chilian raised his book a little, hoping in the depths +of his soul there would be no scene.</p> + +<p>"Say good-night."</p> + +<p>No child of Puritan training, with the fear of the +rod before her eyes, could have done better. She +said good-night in a very sleepy tone, and slipped +her arm about Rachel's waist as they left the room +together.</p> + +<p>No one made any comment at first. Then Eunice +said, in what she made a casual tone:</p> + +<p>"She seems a very tractable child."</p> + +<p>"You can't tell by one instance. Children of that +age are always self-willed. And allowing a child to +lie around one's lap, when she should have said her +prayers and gone to bed at the proper hour, is a most +reprehensible habit. And I don't suppose she ever +says a prayer."</p> + +<p>Eunice thought of the daily prayers for her father's +safe journey. Would that be set down as a sort of +idolatry?</p> + +<p>Chilian picked up his papers; he had grown fastidious, +and rarely left his belongings about to annoy +Elizabeth. Eunice rolled up her work and dropped it +in the bag that hung on the post of her chair, straightened +up a few things, stood the logs in the corner and +put up the wire fender, so there should be no danger +of fire; while Elizabeth set all things straight in the +kitchen.</p> + +<p>Cynthia meanwhile was undressed and mounted the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +steps to the high bed. Then she flung her arms about +Rachel's neck.</p> + +<p>"Oh, come and sleep in my bed to-night!" she +cried pleadingly. "It's so big and lonesome, that I am +afraid. I wish it was like your little bed. They were +so cunning on the ship. I don't like this one, where +you have to go upstairs to get in it. Oh, do come!"</p> + +<p>And Elizabeth Leverett would have been shocked +if she could have seen the child cuddled up in her attendant's +arms. Theoretically, she believed Holy Writ—"He +hath made of one blood all nations." Practically +she made many exceptions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>MAKING FRIENDS WITH THE LITTLE GIRL</h3> + + +<p>The northeast storm was terrific. The wind lashed +the ocean until it writhed and groaned and sent great +billows up on the land. The trees bent to the fierce +blasts; many storms had toughened them and perhaps +taught them the wisdom of yielding, since it must be +break or bend. Silas sat in the barn mending tools and +harness and clearing up generally; Elizabeth spent +most of the first day clearing up the garret again, and +looking with a grudging eye on the new accession of +boxes, and sniffing up the queer smell disdainfully.</p> + +<p>"One can't have the windows open," she ruminated, +"and the smell must go through the house. I +don't believe it will ever get out."</p> + +<p>More than one family in Salem had stores from the +Orient. Many of them liked the fragrance of sandalwood +and strange perfumes. "God's fresh air was +good enough for her," said Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>Eunice had finished her fringe and brought out +some patchwork in the afternoon—a curious pattern, +called basket-work. The basket was made of green +chintz, with a small yellow figure here and there. It +had a handle from side to side, neatly hemmed on a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +white half square. The upper edge of the basket was +cut in points and between each one was a bit of color +to represent or suggest a possible bud of some kind. +One had pink, different shades of red, and a bright +yellow. She had seven blocks finished and they were +in the bottom of the box. Eunice took them out for +the little girl, who spread them on the floor.</p> + +<p>No one was thinking at that day of the mills that +would dot New England, where cotton cloths, calicoes, +and cambrics would be turned out by the bale. These +things had to be imported and were costly. One could +dye plain colors that were used for frocks and gowns, +and some of the hand looms wove ginghams that were +dyed in the thread beforehand.</p> + +<p>"It will take forty-two blocks," said Miss Eunice. +"Six one way, seven the other."</p> + +<p>"Then what are you going to do with it?" asked +the child eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Why, quilt it. Put some cotton between this and +the lining, and sew them together with fine stitches."</p> + +<p>"And then——"</p> + +<p>"Why"—Eunice wondered herself. There were +chests of them piled away in the garret—Chilian's +mother's, and those they had made to fill in the moments +when housework was finished. She had a quiet +sense of humor, and she smiled. What were they laying +up these treasures for? Neither of them would be +married, most of their relatives were well provided +for.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, some one may like to have them;" after a +pause. "You must learn to sew."</p> + +<p>"Patchwork?"</p> + +<p>It was absurd to pile up any more.</p> + +<p>"You see," said the child, "no one needed them +over there;" inclining her head to the East. "You +have a little bed and a pallet, and it is warm, so you +do not need quilts. And the poor people and the +servants have a mat they spread down anywhere +and a blanket, but you see, they sleep with their +clothes on."</p> + +<p>Eunice looked rather horrified.</p> + +<p>"But they change them! They would—why, there +would be soil and vermin."</p> + +<p>"They go to the river and bathe and wash them out. +They sling them on the stones in a queer way. But +some of them are very dirty and ragged. They are +not like the English and us, and don't wear many +clothes. Sometimes they are wrapped up in a white +sheet."</p> + +<p>"It is a very queer country. They are not civilized, +or Christianized. I don't know what will become of +them in the end."</p> + +<p>"It's their country and no one knows how old it is. +China is the oldest country in the world."</p> + +<p>"But, my dear, there was the garden of Eden when +God first created the world. Nothing could be older +than that, you know. Two thousand years to the +flood, and two thousand years to the coming of Christ,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +and some people think the world will end in another +two thousand years."</p> + +<p>"I don't see any sense in burning it up, when there +are so many lovely things in it;" and Cynthia's eyes +took on a deep, inquiring expression. "That was what +the chaplain used to say. Father thought it would +go on and on, getting wiser and greater, and the +people learning to be better and making wonderful +things."</p> + +<p>"My dear, what the Bible says <i>must</i> be true. And +it will be burned up. You have a Bible?"</p> + +<p>"The chaplain gave me a pretty prayer-book. It +is upstairs."</p> + +<p>"We do not believe in prayer-books, dear." The +tone was soft, yet decided. "We came over here, at +least our forefathers did, that we might worship God +according to the dictates of our conscience. We tried +to leave the prayer-books and the bishops behind, but +we couldn't quite. You must have a Bible and read a +chapter every day. Why, I had read it through once +before I was as old as you."</p> + +<p>Cynthia simply stared. Then, after a pause, she +said:</p> + +<p>"Did you sew patchwork, too?"</p> + +<p>"When I was eight I had finished a quilt. And I +learned to knit. I knit my own stockings; I always +have. And I braided rags for a mat. Mother sewed +it together."</p> + +<p>"And your clothes—who made those?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well—mother made some. But a woman used to +come round fall and spring and make for the girls +and boys, though father bought his best suit. He had +one when he was married; it was his freedom suit as +well——"</p> + +<p>"Why, was he a prisoner?" the child interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no;" smiling a little. "Boys had to be subject +to their fathers until they were twenty-one. Then +they had a suit of clothes all the way through and +their time, which meant they were at liberty to work +for any one and ask wages. He had been courting +mother and they were married soon after, so it was +his wedding suit. He had outgrown it before he died, +so he had to get a new one. Mother sold that to a +neighbor that it just fitted."</p> + +<p>"Tell me some more about them." Cynthia was +fond of stories. And this was about real folks, not the +fantastic legends she had heard so often.</p> + +<p>"Well—he and mother worked, she had been living +with a family. Girls did in those days, and were like +daughters of the house. Father went to work there. +They were married in the spring and in the fall he +took a place on shares; that is, he had half of everything, +and they divided up the house. A year or so afterward +it was for sale, and he bought it, and we were +all born there, and there was no change until he died. +That was a sad thing for us. He'd been buying some +more land, and the place wasn't clear. Another man +stood ready to buy it, and mother thought it best to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +sell. You see there was a good deal of trouble between +us and England, who wanted to get all the money she +could out of the Colonies, and wasn't willing to send +troops to protect us from the Indians, and we had to +sell our produce and things to her, and presently the +Colonies wouldn't stand it any longer, and there was +war. Some people were bitterly opposed to it, some +favored it. Then we wouldn't take the tea she insisted +on our buying, and there was the Stamp Act. And +Salem really made the first armed resistance. You +must go out some nice day to North Bridge. The +British troops marched up from Marblehead to seize +some arms they heard were stored here. General +Gage sent them. But the people had word, for a +Major Pedrick rode up to give the alarm, and they hid +them in a secure place. Colonel Leslie headed the +British troops to make the search. But the people of +Salem turned out strong and met the colonel and declared +that he was marching on private property, not +on the King's highway, that the lane and the bridge +were private property, where he had no right. You +see, war had not been declared and the people had a +right to defend their own. So they would not allow +them to cross the river and make a search. But, +finally, they agreed, if the draw over the river could be +lowered and they allowed to march a few rods, they +would withdraw. Of course, they saw nothing suspicious +and came back, keeping their word. Otherwise, +I suppose, that would have been the first battle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +of the war. We were not living here then, but Cousin +Chilian's father lived in this very house."</p> + +<p>"And the arms were really there!" Cynthia drew +a long breath.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! They were ships' cannon going to be +mounted for protection. Some day Cousin Chilian +may take you over to the bridge and tell you all about +it. There was a romance about a girl said to be in love +with a British officer, but you are too young for such +stories."</p> + +<p>If she had not been, the entrance of Elizabeth and +Miss Winn would have checked the garrulity of Eunice. +Cynthia had been laying down the small diamond-shaped +pieces, making a block.</p> + +<p>"Why do you let the child muddle over those pieces, +Eunice? The carpet may not be clean," said Elizabeth +sharply.</p> + +<p>"And it is getting dark, so we had better put them +all up. Mercy! how it still rains. Why, it seems as +if there would be another flood."</p> + +<p>"That can never happen. We have the promise."</p> + +<p>"That the whole world will not be destroyed. But +parts of it may suffer. You and Cynthia are fortunate +not to be in it;" and Eunice raised her eyes to them, +with a certain thankfulness.</p> + +<p>It had not stopped yet in the morning, but the wind +was veering to the south, the air was not so cold and +the rain much gentler. Cynthia wandered about like +an unquiet spirit. It was cold up in their room. Chil<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>ian +had proposed a fire, but Elizabeth had negatived +it sharply.</p> + +<p>"There ought to be room enough in the dining-room +and keeping-room for two extra people," she +said decidedly.</p> + +<p>He felt sorry for the little girl with her downcast +face, as he met her on the landing.</p> + +<p>"Don't you want to come and visit me?" he asked, +in an inviting tone.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!" and the grave little face lightened.</p> + +<p>The blaze was brighter here than downstairs, she +felt quite sure. And the room had a more cheerful +look. The table was spread with books and papers, +and, oh, the books that were on the shelves! The +curious things above them suggested India. There +really was the triple-faced god she had seen so often, +carved in ivory, and another carving of a temple. She +walked slowly round and inspected them. Then she +paused at a window.</p> + +<p>"How much it rains!" she began. "I don't see +how so much rain can be made. When is it going to +stop?"</p> + +<p>"I think it will hold up this afternoon and be clear +to-morrow, clear and sunny."</p> + +<p>"I like sunshine best. And little rains. This has +been so long."</p> + +<p>"And we haven't much to amuse a child. When +it clears up we must find some little folks. Does it +seem very strange to you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I haven't lived with big women much, except +Rachel. And the houses are so different. You get +things about, and the servants pick them up. There +are so many servants. Sometimes there are white +children, but not many. Their mothers take them back +to England. Or they die."</p> + +<p>She uttered the last sadly, and her long lashes +drooped.</p> + +<p>He wondered a little how she had stood the climate. +She looked more like a foreigner than a native of +Salem town.</p> + +<p>"What did you do there?" He hardly knew how +to talk to a little girl.</p> + +<p>"Oh, a great many things. I went to ride in a +curious sort of cart—the natives pulled it. Then the +children came and played in the court. They threw +up balls and caught them, ever so many, and they +played curious games on the stones, and acrobatic +feats, and sung, and danced, and acted stories of funny +things. Then father read to me, and told me about +Salem when he was a little boy. You can't really +think the grown-up people were little, like you."</p> + +<p>"And that one day you will be big like +them."</p> + +<p>She pushed up her sleeve. They were large and +made just big enough for her hand at the wrist, not +at all like the straight, small sleeves of the Puritan +children. After surveying it a moment, she said +gravely:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I can't understand <i>how</i> you grow. You must be +pushed out all the time by something inside."</p> + +<p>"You have just hit it;" and he smiled approvingly. +"It is the forces inside. There is a curious factory inside +of us that keeps working, day and night, that supplies +the blood, the warmth, the strength, and is always +pushing out; it even enlarges the bones until one is +grown and finished, as one may say. And the food +you eat, the air you breathe, are the supplies."</p> + +<p>"But you go on eating and breathing. Why don't +you go on growing?"</p> + +<p>There was a curious little knot in her forehead +where the lines crossed, and she raised her eyes +questioningly to him. What wonderful eyes they +were!</p> + +<p>"I suppose it is partly this: You employ your mind +and your body and they need more nourishment. Then—well, +I think it is the restraining law of nature, else +we should all be giants. In very hot countries and +very cold countries they do not grow so large."</p> + +<p>He could not go into the intricacies of physiology, +as he did with some of the students.</p> + +<p>"You did not go to school?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" She laughed softly. "The native +schools were funny. They sat on mats and did not +have any books, but repeated after the teacher. And, +sometimes, he beat them dreadfully. There were +some English people had a school, but it was to teach +the language to the natives. And then Mr. Cathcart<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +came to stay with father. He had been the chaplain +somewhere and wasn't well, so they gave him a—a——"</p> + +<p>"Furlough?" suggested Chilian.</p> + +<p>"Yes; father sent him out in one of the boats. He +began to teach me some things. I could read, you +know. And I could talk Hindostani some—with the +children. Then I learned to spell and pronounce the +words better. He had a few books of verses that were +beautiful. I learned some of them by heart. And +Latin."</p> + +<p>"Latin!" in surprise.</p> + +<p>"He had some books and a Testament. It was grand +in the sound, and I liked it. There were many things, +cases and such, that I couldn't get quite straight, but +after a little I could read, and then make it over into +English."</p> + +<p>When he was eight he was reading Latin and beginning +French. Some of the Boston women he knew +were very good French scholars, though education +was not looked upon as a necessity for women. It +seemed odd to him—this little girl in Calcutta learning +Latin.</p> + +<p>"Let us see how far you have gone." Teaching +never irked him when he once set about it.</p> + +<p>He hunted up a simple Latin primer.</p> + +<p>"Come around this side;" and he drew her nearer +to him. There had been no little girls to train and +teach, and for a moment he felt embarrassed. But she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +took it as a matter of course, and he could see she was +all interest.</p> + +<p>It had been, as he supposed, rather desultory teaching. +But she took the corrections and explanations +with a sweetness that was quite enchanting. And she +could translate quite well, in an idiomatic fashion. +Really, with the right kind of training she would make +a good scholar.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you must be tired of standing," he said presently. +"How thoughtless of me. I have no little +chairs, so I must hunt one up, but this will have to +do now. That will be more comfortable. Now we +can go on."</p> + +<p>She laughed at her own little blunders in a cheerful +fashion, and made haste to correct them. And then he +found that she knew several of the old Latin hymns +by heart, as they had been favorites of the English +clergyman.</p> + +<p>They were interrupted by a light tap at the door. +He said "Come"; and turned his head.</p> + +<p>It was Miss Winn.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me. We couldn't imagine where Cynthia +was. Hasn't she been an annoyance?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; we have had a very nice time."</p> + +<p>"But—had you not better come downstairs. Miss +Eunice is sewing her pretty patchwork again."</p> + +<p>"Oh, let me stay," she pleaded. "Do I bother +you?"</p> + +<p>It crossed his mind just then that in the years to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +come more than one man would yield to the sweet +persuasiveness of those eyes.</p> + +<p>"Yes, let her stay. She is no trouble. Indeed, we +are studying."</p> + +<p>Miss Winn was glad of his indorsement. Miss +Elizabeth had been "worrying" for the last ten minutes. +She had crept softly up to the garret, quite sure +she should find the child in mischief. Then she had +glanced into the "best chamber," but there was no +sign of her there.</p> + +<p>"Very well," replied Miss Winn.</p> + +<p>Cynthia drew a long breath presently.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are tired!" he exclaimed. "Run over +to the window and tell me how the sky looks. I think +it doesn't rain now."</p> + +<p>She slipped down, stood still for a moment, then +turned and clapped her hands, laughing deliciously.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there is blue sky, and a great yellow streak. +The clouds are trying to hide the sun, but they can't. +Oh, see, see!"</p> + +<p>She danced up and down the room like a fairy in +the long ray of sunshine that illumined the apartment.</p> + +<p>"Oh, are you not glad!" She turned such a joyous +face to him that he smiled and came over to the window +that nearly faced the west.</p> + +<p>"Better than the Latin?"</p> + +<p>"Well—I like both;" archly.</p> + +<p>He raised the window. A warm breath of delightful +air rushed in, making the room with the fire seem<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +chilly by contrast. He drew in long reviving breaths. +Spring had truly come. To-morrow the swelling buds +would burst.</p> + +<p>"We must have a little Latin every day. And occasionally +a walk in the sunshine. Twice a week I +go down to Boston, but the other days will be +ours."</p> + +<p>"I like your room," she said frankly. "But what +sights of books! Do you read them all?"</p> + +<p>"Not very often. I do not believe I have read them +all through. But I need them for reference, and some +I like very much."</p> + +<p>He wanted to add, "And some were a gift from +your dear father," but he could not disturb her happy +mood.</p> + +<p>"Suppose we go down on the porch. It is too wet +to walk anywhere."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes;" delightedly. "And to-morrow I will go +down to the vessel again and see Captain Corwin. I +do not want it to rain any more for weeks and weeks."</p> + +<p>"No, for days and days. Weeks would dry us all +up, and we would have no lovely spring flowers."</p> + +<p>"And a famine maybe. Do the very poor people +sometimes starve?"</p> + +<p>"I do not think we have any very poor people, as +they do in India. We are not overcrowded yet."</p> + +<p>The rain had beaten the paths and the street hard, +and it looked as if it had been swept clean. In spite +of it all there were cheering evidences of spring.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There are some children in that house," she exclaimed, +nodding her head.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the Uphams. There are two girls and two +boys, the oldest and the youngest, who isn't much +more than a baby. Bentley Upham must be about +twelve. Polly is next, but she is a head taller than +you. Then there's Betty. I am glad there will be +some little girls for you to play with."</p> + +<p>She looked eager and interested.</p> + +<p>"Will you come in to supper? Chilian, you ought +to know better than to be standing in this damp air. +And that child with nothing around her!"</p> + +<p>"The air is reviving, after having been housed for +two days." But he turned and went in, leading the +child by the hand.</p> + +<p>The long, bleak New England coast winter was over, +though it had lingered as if loath to go. Springs were +seldom early, no one expected that. But this one came +on with a rush. The willows donned their silver +catkins and then threw them off for baby leaves, the +lilac buds showed purple, the elms and maples came +out in bloom, and the soft ones drew crowds of half-famished +bees to their sweet tassels. The grass was +vividly green, iridescent in the morning sun, with +the dew still upon it. Snowdrop, crocus, hepatica, +and coltsfoot, wild honeysuckle, were all about, the +forsythia flared out her saucy yellow, the fruit buds +swelled. Parties were out in the woods hunting trailing +arbutus that has been called the darling of north<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>ern +skies, that lies hidden in its nest of green leaves, +silent, with no wind tossing it to and fro, but betrayed +by its sweetness.</p> + +<p>There were other signs of spring at Salem. The +whole town seemed to burst out in house-cleaning. +Parlor shutters were thrown open and windows +washed. Carpets were beaten, blankets hung out to +air, those that had been in real use washed. Women +were out in gardens with sunbonnets and gloves, a +coat of tan not being held in much esteem, and snipped +at roses and hardy plants. Men were spading and +planting the vegetable gardens, painting or white-washing +fences. All was stir and bustle, and tired +folk excused themselves if they nodded in church on +Sunday.</p> + +<p>Cynthia made pilgrimages to the <i>Flying Star</i> that +had been her home for so long. The storm had +wrought great havoc with some of the shipping, and +big boys were out gathering driftwood. The <i>Gazette</i> +had some melancholy news of "lost at sea." But +Captain Corwin thought he had weathered worse +storms.</p> + +<p>"She is picking up mightily," he said to Miss Winn, +nodding toward Cynthia. "Shouldn't be surprised if +she favored her mother, after all. Only them eyes +ain't neither Orne nor Leverett. Don't let her grieve +too much when the bad news comes."</p> + +<p>Eunice and Chilian had taken her to call on the +Uphams. And though she was quite familiar at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +home, here she shrank into painful shyness and would +not leave Eunice's sheltering figure.</p> + +<p>"Children get soonest acquainted by themselves," +declared Mrs. Upham. "I suppose you will send her +to school. If she's not very forward, Dame Wilby's +is best. She and Betty can go together. Why, she +isn't as tall as Betty—and nine, you said? Granny was +talking the other day about the time she was born. +She's a real little Salem girl after all, though she's +got a foreign skin, and what odd-colored hair! We've +started Polly to Miss Betts. I want her to learn sewing +and needlework, and she's too big now to company +with such children. Why, I was almost a woman +at twelve, and could spin and knit with the best of +them. Miss Eunice, I wish you'd teach her that +pretty openwork stitch you do so handy. Imported +stockings cost so much. They say there's women +in Boston doing the fancy ones for customers. +But I tell Polly if she wants any she must do them +herself."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Upham had a tolerably pleasant voice. She +always talked in monologues. Betty edged around +presently and would have taken Cynthia's hand, but +the child laid it in Miss Eunice's lap, and looked distrustful.</p> + +<p>Chilian was as glad as she when the call ended. +He did not seek the society of women often enough +to feel at home with them, though he was kindly polite +when he did meet them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Did you ask about the school?" was the inquiry of +Elizabeth that evening.</p> + +<p>"Yes; she thinks Dame Wilby's the best for small +children. And Cynthia knows so little that is of +real importance, though she reads pretty well," said +Eunice.</p> + +<p>"Yes, she must get started. I shall be glad when +the <i>Flying Star</i> is off and she isn't running down there +with the men. I don't see what's got into Chilian to +think of teaching her Latin. It had enough sight better +be the multiplication table."</p> + +<p>So she proposed the school to Chilian. She had a +queer feeling about his fancy for the child. She +would have scouted the idea of jealousy, but she would +have had much the same feeling if he had "begun to +pay attention" to some woman. The other matters +had reached a passable settlement. The "best chamber" +was tidily kept, the little girl well looked after +to see that she troubled no one. Miss Winn kept her +clothes in order, but they had a decidedly foreign look, +and of materials no one would think of buying for a +child. But the goods were here, and might as well be +used.</p> + +<p>Miss Winn had made a few alterations in the room—softened +the aspect of it. She longed to take out +the big carved bedstead, but she knew that would +never do. She made herself useful in many unobtrusive +ways, gardened a little, was neighborly yet +reserved.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know what we would do if she were a +gossip," Elizabeth commented.</p> + +<p>She broached the subject of the school to Chilian.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," he answered reluctantly. "I suppose +she ought to go. She's curiously shy with other +children."</p> + +<p>"She talks enough about that Nalla, as if they had +been like sisters."</p> + +<p>"You can notice that she always preserves the distinction, +though."</p> + +<p>"There's no use bothering with that Latin, Chilian. +Next thing it will be French. And she won't know +enough figuring to count change. Girls don't need +that kind of education."</p> + +<p>"But some of them have to be Presidents' wives. +And some of them wives to men who have to go +abroad. French seems to be quite general among +cultivated people."</p> + +<p>"It's hardly likely she'll go abroad. And she needs +to be like other people. I don't see what you find so +entertaining about her. And you couldn't bear children +in your room!"</p> + +<p>"She isn't any annoyance. Then she is so deft, so +dainty. She touches books with the lightest of fingers. +She will sit and look at pictures, and it quite +surprises me how much she knows about geography."</p> + +<p>"And nothing much about her native country. She +can't tell the difference between Pilgrims and Puritans. +And she didn't know why we came over here,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +and why it was not the same God in England, and if +all the gods in India were idols. Chilian, you shouldn't +encourage her irreverence. It looks pert in a child."</p> + +<p>"She will get over these ways as she grows older +and mingles with other children."</p> + +<p>"That is what I am coming to. She ought to begin +at once. Betty Upham goes to Dame Wilby. Her +mother considers it excellent for small children. She +could go with Betty and there would be no fear of +her trailing off no one knows where."</p> + +<p>Of course, she ought to go to school. He could +manage a big boy on the verge of manhood very well. +But this woman-child puzzled him. She seemed very +tractable, obedient in a certain sense, yet in the end +she seemed to get, or to take, her own way. Suppressing +one train of action opened another. She had a +sweet way of yielding, but a strong way of holding on. +A little thing made her happy, yet in her deepest happiness +there was much gravity. His theories were that +certain qualities brought to pass certain results. He +forgot that there were no such things as pure temperaments, +and that environments made second nature +different from what the first might have been. The +child puzzled him by her contrariety, yet she was not +a troublesome child.</p> + +<p>"Well;" reluctantly.</p> + +<p>"I'll see the Dame. And we will start her on +Monday."</p> + +<p>He nodded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>Elizabeth had another point to gain. She looked +over her trunk of pieces. Here were several yards of +brown and white gingham, quite enough for a frock +without any furbelows. With the roll in her hand she +tapped at the partly open door. Rachel had laid out +on the bed several white frocks, plain enough even +for Salem tastes.</p> + +<p>"Cynthia's going to school on Monday," she announced. +"And I thought this would make her a +good school frock. It won't be dirtysome. You see +children here <i>do</i> dress differently. You'll get into the +ways."</p> + +<p>Rachel looked at the gingham. "I shouldn't like it +for her," she said quietly. "Her father always wanted +to see her in white. That is new every time it is +washed. These things fade and then look so wretched. +Beside she will only outgrow these frocks."</p> + +<p>"Children here keep their white frocks for Sundays," +was the decisive reply.</p> + +<p>"She may as well wear these out. They were made +last summer. She has not grown much meanwhile. +I should like to keep her in the way her father desired."</p> + +<p>"Then she must have a long-sleeved apron to cover +her up. This will make two. For those white things +make an endless sight of washing."</p> + +<p>"I have been considering that," said Rachel Winn +quietly. "I wear white a good deal myself. I noticed +a small house on Front Street where there were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +nearly always clothes on the lines, and I stopped in +to inquire. I felt it was too much laundry-work for +your woman through the summer. This Mrs. Pratt is +very reasonable and does her work nicely. So I have +made arrangements with her. Captain Leverett made +a generous allowance for incidental expenses."</p> + +<p>What Elizabeth termed Miss Winn's "independence" +grated sorely upon her ideas of what was owing +to the head of the house, which was herself. It was +always done so quietly and pleasantly one could hardly +take umbrage. Cynthia was not exactly a child of the +house. She was in no wise dependent on her newly +found relatives. Chilian had made that understood in +the beginning, when he had chosen the best chamber +for them.</p> + +<p>"You don't need to take boarders," she had replied +tartly.</p> + +<p>"I don't know as we are to call it that. I am the +child's guardian and answerable for her comfort and +her welfare. The perfect trust confided in me has +touched me inexpressibly. I didn't know that Anthony +Leverett held me in such high esteem. And if +I choose to put this money by until she is grown—it +will make such a little difference in our living——"</p> + +<p>"Chilian Leverett, you are justly entitled to it," she +interrupted with sharp decision. "He's right enough +in making a fair provision for them—no doubt he has +plenty. But I don't quite like the boarder business, for +all that."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We must get some one to help you with the work."</p> + +<p>"I don't want any more help than I have. Land +sakes! Eunice and I have plenty of leisure on our +hands. I wouldn't have a servant around wasting +things, if she paid me wages."</p> + +<p>They had gone on very smoothly. Eunice had +found her way to the child's heart. But then Eunice +had lived with her dream children that might have +been like Charles Lamb's "Children of Alice." Elizabeth +might have married twice in her life, but there +was no love in either case, rather a secret mortification +that such incapables should dare to raise their +thoughts to her. But she had some strenuous ideas +on the rearing of children, quite of the older sort. +Life was softening somewhat, even for childhood, but +she did not approve of it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>GOING TO SCHOOL</h3> + + +<p>Elizabeth Leverett interviewed Dame Wilby beforehand. +The woman came half a day on Monday +to wash and she hardly knew how to spend half an +hour, but when she found Miss Winn was going, she +loftily relegated the whole business to her.</p> + +<p>Dame Wilby lived in an old rambling house, already +an eyesore to the finer houses in Lafayette Street, but +the Dame was obstinate and would not sell. "It was +going to last her time out. She was born here when it +was only a lane, and she meant to be buried from +here." Once it had been quite a flourishing school; but +newer methods had begun to supersede it. It was +handy for the small children about the neighborhood, it +took them over the troublesome times, it gave their +mothers a rest, and kept them out of mischief. And the +old dames were thorough, as far as they went. Indeed, +some of the mothers had never gone any farther. +They could cast up accounts, they could weigh and +measure, for they had learned all the tables. They +could spell and read clearly, they knew all the common +arts of life, and how to keep on learning out of the +greater than printed books—experience.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dame Wilby might have been eighty. No one remembered +her being young. Her husband was lost at +sea and she opened the school, worked in her garden, +saved until she had cleared her small old home, and +now was laying up a trifle every year. She was tall and +somewhat bent in the shoulders, very much wrinkled, +with clear, piercing light blue eyes and snowy hair. +She always wore a cap and only a little line of it +showed at the edge of her high forehead. Her frocks +were made in the plainest style, skirts straight and +narrow, and she always wore a little shoulder shawl, +pinned across the bosom—white in the summer, home-dyed +blue in the winter.</p> + +<p>Some children were playing tag in the unoccupied +lot next door. The schoolroom door opened at the +side. There were two rows of desks, with benches +for the older children, two more with no desks for the +A B C and spelling classes. The rest they learned +in concert, orally. The dame had a table covered with +a gray woollen cloth, some books, an inkstand, a holder +for pens and pencils, and the never-failing switch.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she answered to Miss Winn's explanation. +"Miss Leverett was telling about her. I was teaching +school here when she was born, and then the captain +took her away to the Ingies again." Most folks pronounced +it that way. "Rather meachin' little thing—I +s'pose it was the climate over there. They say it +turns the skin yellow. Let's see how you read, sissy?"</p> + +<p>She read several verses out of the New Testament<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +quite to the dame's satisfaction. Then about spelling. +The second word, in two syllables, floored her. Had +she ciphered? No. Did she know her tables? No. +The capital of the state? That she could answer. +When the war broke out? When peace was declared?</p> + +<p>"I'll ask Cousin Leverett," she answered, in nowise +abashed by her ignorance. "He tells me a great +many things."</p> + +<p>"You must study it out of books. I s'pose she's +going to live here? She's not going back to the +Ingies? I heard the captain was coming home."</p> + +<p>"He is settling up his affairs," was the quiet answer.</p> + +<p>Dame Wilby looked the child all over.</p> + +<p>"You'll sit on that bench," she said. Then she rang +the bell and the children trooped in, staring at her. +The little boys—four of them—were on the seat back +of her, on her seat she made the fifth. Betty Upham +was in the desk contingent.</p> + +<p>They repeated the Lord's prayer in concert. Then +lessons were given out. The larger girls read.</p> + +<p>"You can come and read with this class;" nodding +to Cynthia.</p> + +<p>She was not a regularly bashful child, but she +flushed as the children stared at her. They sometimes +wore their Sunday white frock one or two days at +school. Cynthia was so used to her clothes, cared so +little about them that they were rarely in her mind. +But this universal attention annoyed her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Tend to your books, children."</p> + +<p>Cynthia acquitted herself finely, rather too much so, +the dame thought. She would talk to her about it. +A girl didn't want to read as if she was a minister +preaching a sermon.</p> + +<p>Then she was given a very much "dog's-eared" +spelling-book to study down a column. Another class +read some easy lesson; a story about a dog that interested +her so much that she forgot to study. While the +older children were doing sums one little boy after +another came up to the desk and spelled from a book. +One's attention wandered and the dame hit him a +sharp rap. Tables followed, eight and nine times; dry +measure, and then questions were asked singly. Some +few missed. Cynthia followed the spelling where +they went up and down. Then the larger ones were +dismissed for recess.</p> + +<p>"Cynthy Leverett, come up here and see how many +words you can spell. You ought to be ashamed, a +big girl like you staying behind in next to the baby +class."</p> + +<p>Cynthia's face was scarlet. Alas! She had been so +interested watching and listening she had not studied +at all. But the words were rather easy and she did +know all but two.</p> + +<p>"Now you take the next line and those two over +again. See if you can't get them all learned by +noon."</p> + +<p>The next little girl, who could not have been more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +than six, missed a number. She had a queer drawl in +her voice.</p> + +<p>"What did I tell you, Jane Mason? And you have +missed more than two. Hold out your hand!"</p> + +<p>The switch came down on the poor little hand with +an angry swish. Cynthia winched.</p> + +<p>"Now you go back and study. No going out to +play for you this morning. Jane Mason, you're the +biggest dunce in school."</p> + +<p>The two other girls did better. Then the bell rang +and the girls came in with flushed and laughing faces.</p> + +<p>Cynthia studied her two words over until they +ceased to have any meaning. At twelve they were all +dismissed.</p> + +<p>"Isn't she a hateful old thing?" said Janie Mason, +when they were outside of the door. "I wish I was +big enough to strike back. I don't like school anyhow. +Do you?"</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know. I have never been before."</p> + +<p>Several of the other girls swarmed around her with +curious eyes.</p> + +<p>"What a pretty frock!" began Betty Upham. "I +suppose it's your Sunday best, with all that work."</p> + +<p>"Betty said you were an Injun," said another. "I +never saw an Injun who didn't have coarse, straight, +black hair, and yours is lightish and curls. I'd so love +to have curly hair."</p> + +<p>"I'm not the kind of Indians you have here," she +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span>returned indignantly. "I was born right here in +Salem. I've lived in Calcutta and in China, and been +to Batavia, and ever so many places."</p> + +<p>"Then you ain't an Injun at all! Betty, how could +you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, that's what some of them said. Maybe +your mother was an Injun!" looking as if she had +fixed the uncertain suspicion.</p> + +<p>"No, she wasn't. She lived here part of the time. +She was born in Boston."</p> + +<p>They glanced at each other in a kind of upbraiding +fashion.</p> + +<p>"And you had to be put with the little children! +Aren't there any schools in that place you came from? +It's a heathen country. Our minister prays for it. +Don't you have any churches either? What do people +do when they are grown up if they never go to +school?"</p> + +<p>"Are you coming stiddy?"</p> + +<p>"Is Mr. Chilian Leverett your real relation?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, tell me—have you any other frock as pretty +as this? My sister Hetty has a beautiful one, all lace +and needlework. She's saving it to be married in."</p> + +<p>"Martha, I dare you to a race!"</p> + +<p>Two girls ran off as fast as they could. Betty Upham +caught Cynthia's arm.</p> + +<p>"I didn't say you were a real Injun. Debby Strang +always gets things mixed up. But it is something +queer——"</p> + +<p>"East India;" in a tone of great dignity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Where the ships are coming from all the time? +Is it prettier than Salem?"</p> + +<p>"It's so different you can't tell. We do not have +hardly any winter. And there are vines and flowers +and temples to heathen gods, and the people <i>are</i> yellow +and brown."</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose you will ever grow clear white?"</p> + +<p>Cynthia had half a mind to be angry. Even Miss +Elizabeth was fair, and Miss Eunice had such a soft, +pretty skin.</p> + +<p>"There, that's your corner. You're coming this +afternoon?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I suppose so."</p> + +<p>Miss Elizabeth was all bustle and hurry. It was +clouding up a little. It hadn't been a real fair day, and +the hot sun had dried the clothes too quick. She liked +them to bleach on the line, it was almost as good as the +grass. And Miss Drake couldn't stay and iron, they +had sickness over to the Appletons and she had to go +there. Everything was out of gear.</p> + +<p>"I'd help with the ironing, if you would like," said +Miss Winn.</p> + +<p>"Well, the ironing isn't so much;" rather ungraciously. +"You see, there were four blankets. I never +touch an iron to them, but shake them good and fold +them, and let them lay one night, then hang them on +the line in the garret. The bulk of it was large. And +a good stiff breeze blows out wrinkles. The wind +hasn't blown worth a Continental;" complainingly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Did you like the school?" Miss Winn inquired +in the hall.</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't. And I don't seem to know anything;" +in a discouraged tone.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you will learn."</p> + +<p>It was warm in the afternoon. Two of the boys +were decidedly bad and were punished. They positively +roared. Cynthia spelled, and spelled, and +studied—"One and one are two," "one and two +are three," and after a while it dawned on her that +it was just one more every time. Why, she had +known that all the time, only it hadn't been put in a +table.</p> + +<p>It grew very tiresome after a while. She asked if +she couldn't have recess with the big girls, but was +sharply refused. In truth the good dame grew very +weary herself, and was glad when five o'clock came +and she could go out in the garden and recruit her +tired nerves.</p> + +<p>The stage was stopping at the door. Oh, how glad +she was to see Cousin Leverett. He smiled down in +the flushed face.</p> + +<p>"How did the school go?" he asked.</p> + +<p>She hung her head. "I don't like it. I have to be +with the little class because I don't know tables, but I +learned all the one times. That was easy enough when +you came to see into it. But—nine and nine?"</p> + +<p>"Eighteen," he answered promptly.</p> + +<p>"And you answered it right offhand!" She gave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +a soft, cheerful laugh. "Oh, do you suppose I shall +ever know so much?"</p> + +<p>"There was a time when I didn't know it."</p> + +<p>"Truly?" She looked incredulous.</p> + +<p>"Truly. And I had quite hard work remembering +to spell correctly."</p> + +<p>"I studied two lines. This morning I missed two +words, but this afternoon I knew them all. And I +can't write on the slate. The pencil wabbles so, and +then it gives an awful squeak that goes all over you. +And I can't do sums. And there's all the tables to +learn. And I don't like the teacher. I wish Miss +Eunice could teach me. Or maybe Rachel might."</p> + +<p>"I might help you a little. But you read well?"</p> + +<p>"She said it was too—too"—she wrinkled up her +forehead—"too affected, like a play-actor."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" he cried disapprovingly. "We will +see about some other school presently. Would you +like to take a walk with me? I'm tired of the long +stage-ride."</p> + +<p>"Oh, so much!" She caught one hand in both of +hers and gave a few skips of joy.</p> + +<p>"Let us go over to the river."</p> + +<p>Of course, he should have gone in and announced +their resolve. But he was so used to considering only +himself, and he realized that it must have been a tiresome +day to her. They went over Lafayette Street, +which was only a lane, and then turned up the stream.</p> + +<p>Oh, how sweet the air was with the odorous damp<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>ness +and the smell of new growths, tree and grass. +The sun, low in the west, slanted golden gleams +through the tree branches which chased each other over +the grassy spaces, as if they were quite alive and at +merry-making. There were sedgy plants in bloom, +jack-in-the-pulpit, and what might have been a lily, +with a more euphonious name. Iridescent flies were +skimming about, now and then a fish made a stir and +dazzle. Squirrels ran up and down the trees and chattered, +robins were singing joyously, the thrush with +her soft, plaintive note. She glanced up now and then +and caught his eye, and he felt she was happy. It was +a delightful thing, after all, to render some one truly +happy. Perhaps children were more easily satisfied, +more responsive.</p> + +<p>"Oh," he said presently, "we must go back or +we will lose our supper, and Cousin Elizabeth will +scold."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't think she would dare to scold you;" +raising wondering eyes.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" He wondered what reason she would +give.</p> + +<p>"Because you are a man."</p> + +<p>"She scolds Silas."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is different."</p> + +<p>"How—different? We are both men. He is quite +as tall as I."</p> + +<p>"But you see—well, he is something like a servant. +She tells him what to do, and if he doesn't do it right<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +she can find fault with it. But you are—well, the +house is yours. You can do what pleases you."</p> + +<p>"Quite reasoned out, little one;" and he laughed +with an approving sound.</p> + +<p>"It's curious that you scold people you like, and +other people may do the same thing and—is it because +you don't dare to? If it is wrong in the one place, +why not in the other?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps politeness restrains us."</p> + +<p>"I don't like people to scold. Miss Eunice never +does."</p> + +<p>"Eunice has a sweet nature. Doesn't Miss Winn +ever scold you?"</p> + +<p>"Well—I suppose I am bad and wilful sometimes, +and then she has the right. But when you do things +that do not matter——"</p> + +<p>Miss Winn was walking in the garden. Cynthia +waved her hand, but walked leisurely forward.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't imagine what had become of you."</p> + +<p>"It was my fault," interposed Chilian. "I met her +at the gate and asked her to go for a walk."</p> + +<p>"And with that soiled apron!"</p> + +<p>"That came off the slate. I hadn't any desk. It +was hard to hold it on my knee."</p> + +<p>"You might have come in for a clean one. Run +upstairs and change it."</p> + +<p>But she was destined to meet Cousin Elizabeth in +the hall. The elder caught her arm roughly.</p> + +<p>"Where have you been gadding to, bad girl?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +Didn't you know you must come straight home from +school? Here we have been worried half to death +about you, and I'm tired as a dog, trotting 'round all +day. You deserve a good whipping;" and she shook +her. She would have enjoyed slapping her soundly. +But Chilian entered at that instant.</p> + +<p>"She is going upstairs for a clean apron," he said. +"I took her off for a walk."</p> + +<p>"She might have asked whether she could go or +not," snapped Elizabeth. "She's the most lawless +thing!"</p> + +<p>"It was my place. Don't blame the child!"</p> + +<p>"Well, supper's ready."</p> + +<p>She didn't have her apron on quite straight and her +hair was a little frowsy. Elizabeth had proposed it +should be cut short on the neck for the summer, but +Miss Winn had objected.</p> + +<p>"Such a great mop! No child wears it!"</p> + +<p>Cynthia came in quietly and took her place. After +her first cup of tea Elizabeth thawed a little, enough +to announce that two of the Appleton children were ill, +they thought with scarlet fever.</p> + +<p>Chilian expressed some sympathy.</p> + +<p>"And how was the school, Cynthia? We thought +you might have been kept in for some of your good +deeds, as children are so seldom bad."</p> + +<p>"I—I didn't like it," she answered simply.</p> + +<p>"Children can't have just what they like in this +world," was Elizabeth's rejoinder.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Nor grown people either," was Chilian's softening +comment. Then he changed the subject. He had seen +Cousin Giles, who proposed to pay them a visit, coming +on some Saturday.</p> + +<p>"Have you any lesson to learn?" he asked of Cynthia. +"If so, bring your book and come to my room."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you!" Her face was radiant with delight.</p> + +<p>Where had she left her book? Dame Wilby had +told her to take it home and study. Surely she had +brought it—oh, yes! she had put it just inside the gate +under the great clump of ribbon grass. If only Cousin +Elizabeth's sharp eyes had not seen it. But there it +was, safe enough.</p> + +<p>She was delighted to go to Cousin Chilian's room, +though she never presumed. She seemed to have an +innate sort of delicacy that he wondered at.</p> + +<p>The spelling was soon mastered. It was the rather +unusual words that puzzled her. Then they attacked +the tables and he practised her in making figures. +Like most children left to themselves, she printed instead +of writing.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she cried with a wistful yet joyous emphasis, +"I wish I could come to school to you. And I'd +like to be the only scholar."</p> + +<p>"But you ought to be with little girls."</p> + +<p>"I don't like them very much."</p> + +<p>Then Miss Winn came for her. "You are very +good to take so much trouble," she said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I like you so much, so much!" she exclaimed +with her sweet eyes as well as her lips.</p> + +<p>He recalled then the day on board the vessel, when +she had besought in her impetuous fashion that he +should kiss her. She had never offered the caress +since. She was not an effusive child.</p> + +<p>Her position at school was rather anomalous. A +younger woman might have managed differently. +There was a new scholar that rather crowded them on +the bench. And the boy back of her did some sly +things that annoyed her. He gave her hair a twitch +now and then. One day he dropped a little toad on her +book, at which she screamed, though an instant after +she was not at all afraid. Of course, he was whipped +for that, and for once she did not feel sorry.</p> + +<p>"You're a great ninny to be afraid of a toad not +bigger than a button," he said scornfully. "I'll get +you whipped some day to make up for it, see if I +don't."</p> + +<p>Thursday was unfortunate and she was kept in for +some rather saucy replies. When she returned they +were in the sitting-room and had been discussing some +household matters. She surveyed them with a courageous +but indignant air.</p> + +<p>"I've quit," she exclaimed. "I'm not going there +to school any more."</p> + +<p>She stood up very straight, her eyes flashing.</p> + +<p>"What!" ejaculated Cousin Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"Why, I've quit! She wanted to make me say I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +was sorry and beg her pardon, and she threatened to +keep me all night, but I knew some of you would come, +at least Rachel."</p> + +<p>"And I suppose you were a saucy, naughty girl!"</p> + +<p>"What happened?" asked Chilian quietly.</p> + +<p>"Why, you see—I went up to her table with the +figures I had been making on my slate. I'd done some +of them over three times, for Tommy Marsh joggled +my elbow. Then I went back to my seat. We're +crowded now, and I went to sit down and sat on the +floor. I do believe Sadie Green did it on purpose—moved +so there wasn't room enough for me to sit. +And Tom laughed, then all the children laughed, and +Dame Wilby said, 'Get up, Cynthy Leverett,' and I +said 'My name isn't Cynthy, if you please, and I +haven't any seat to sit on if I do get up.' And then the +children laughed again, and I don't quite know what +did happen, but I was so angry. Then she said all +the children should stay in for laughing. She called +me to the desk and I went. The slate was broken and +I laid it on the table. Then she said wasn't I sorry +for being saucy, and I said I wasn't. It was bad enough +to fall on the floor, for I might have hurt myself. +Then she took up her switch, and I said: 'You strike +me, if you dare!' Then she pushed me in a little +closet place, and there I staid until after school was +out. Then she said, 'Would I tell Miss Leverett to +come over?' and I said Mr. Leverett was my guardian +and I would tell him, but I wasn't coming to school<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +any more, and that Tommy Marsh pinched me and +pulled my hair, and called me wild Indian. And so—I've +quit. You can't make me go again. I'll run +away first and go on some of the boats."</p> + +<p>There was a blaze of scarlet on her cheeks and her +eyes flashed fire, but she stood up straight and defiant, +when another child might have broken down and cried. +Chilian Leverett always remembered the picture she +made—small, dark, and spirited.</p> + +<p>"No," he exclaimed, "you need not go back." +Then he rose and took her hand that was cold and +trembling. "You will not go back. Let us find Miss +Winn——"</p> + +<p>"Chilian!" warned Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>He led Cynthia from the room, up the stairs. Miss +Winn sat there sewing. She clasped her arms about +him, he could fairly feel the throb in them.</p> + +<p>"Oh," she cried with a strange sort of sweetness. +"I love you. You are so good to me, and I have told +you just the truth."</p> + +<p>Then she buried her face on Miss Winn's bosom.</p> + +<p>Chilian went downstairs. He laughed, yet he was +deeply touched by her audacity and bravery.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth," he announced; "I will see Mrs. +Wilby. Let the matter die out, do not refer to it. I +did not think it quite the school for her. We will find +something else."</p> + +<p>"Chilian, I must make one effort for you and her. +Going on this way will be her ruin. I should insist<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +upon her going back to school and apologizing to Mrs. +Wilby. I wouldn't let a chit like that order what a +household of grown people should do and make them +bow down to her. You will be sorry for it in the end. +You have had no experience with children, you have +seen so few. And a man hasn't the judgment——"</p> + +<p>His usually serene temper was getting ruffled, and +with such characters the end is often obstinacy.</p> + +<p>"If she is to make a disturbance here, become a +bone of contention with us, I will send her away. +Cousin Giles is taking a great interest in her. There +are good boarding-schools in Boston, or she and Miss +Winn could have a home together under his supervision. +There is enough to provide for them."</p> + +<p>"And you would turn her over to that half-heathen +woman!" in a horrified tone. "Then I wash my +hands of the matter. Send her to perdition, if you +will."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>CHANGEFUL LIGHTS OF CHILDHOOD</h3> + + +<p>Elizabeth Leverett busied herself about the supper. +She felt as one does in the threatening of a thunderstorm, +when the clouds roll up and the rumbling is +low and distant and one studies the sky with presentiments. +Then it comes nearer, flirts a little with the +elements, breaks open and shows the blue that the +scurrying wind soon hides and the real storm bursts. +She had believed all along that it must come.</p> + +<p>She was not an ungracious or a selfish woman outside +of her own home. She was good to the sick and +the needy, she gave of her time and strength. In the +home there was a sense of ownership, of the self-appropriation +so often termed duty. Everything had gone +on smoothly for years. She had settled that Chilian +would not marry. Such a bookish man, whose interests +lay chiefly with men, did not need a wife when +there was some one at hand to make him comfortable. +And that he surely was. He understood and enjoyed +it. He had only to suggest to have. Her affection for +him was like that for a younger brother. Even Eunice +could not minister so well for his comfort, though, +like Mary of Bible lore, she often added a delicate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +pleasure in listening to matters or incidents that interested +him.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth had settled to the idea of a little heathen +soul that she was to lead aright. Missionary work in +godless lands had not made much advance and, having +no mother, who was there to warn her of the great +peril of her soul? Seafaring men were not much +given to thought of the other world. Perhaps there +was some grace for them in the hours of peril, she +had heard they prayed to God in an extremity; and +there was the dying thief. But on land no one had a +right to count on this.</p> + +<p>The child had changed everything. Even Eunice +seemed to have lost the sharp distinction. Miss Winn +belonged to the ungodly, that was clear—though she +was upright, honest, neat, and in some ways sensible. +But her ideas about the child were foreign and reprehensible—dangerous +even. The child was no worse +than others, not as bad as some, for she had either by +nature or training a delicate respect for the property of +others. She never meddled. She asked few questions +even when she stood by the kitchen table and watched +the mysteries of cake and pie making and the delicacies +of cooking. It was the right to herself that annoyed +Elizabeth. People had hardly begun to suspect that +children had any rights.</p> + +<p>"But if she went away? If she was swallowed up +in the vortex of the more populous city"—greater, +Salem would not have admitted. "If the child's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +soul was finally lost, would she be quite clear? +Would she have done all that she could for her +salvation?"</p> + +<p>She thought of it as she prepared the supper. She +surveyed the inviting-looking table and then rang the +bell. Eunice brought in a handful of flowers. Chilian +came—and Miss Winn.</p> + +<p>"Cynthia has gone to bed, she does not want any +supper," was her quiet announcement.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth would have sent her to bed supperless, +and approved of a severer punishment.</p> + +<p>Miss Winn asked some questions about Boston.</p> + +<p>"I have quite a desire to see it," she added.</p> + +<p>Yes, she would no doubt plan for a removal. Then +the child would be forever lost. And a Leverett, too, +come of a strong God-fearing family!</p> + +<p>The child, when she had hidden her face on Rachel's +bosom, gave some dry, hard sobs that shook her small +frame. Rachel smoothed her hair, patted the shoulder +softly, and said "Dear" in a caressing tone. Then +had come a torrent of tears, a wild hysterical weeping. +She did not attempt to check it, but took Cynthia in +her arms as if she had been a baby.</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to that school any more," she said +brokenly, after a while.</p> + +<p>"What happened, dear?"</p> + +<p>Cynthia raised her head. "It was very mean, as if +I had done it on purpose! Why, I might have hurt +myself;" indignantly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How was it?" gently.</p> + +<p>And then the story came tumbling out. She saw a +certain ludicrous aspect in it now, and laughed a little +herself. "I couldn't help being saucy. And I thought +she was going to strike me. Tommy Marsh began to +laugh first. The slate broke——"</p> + +<p>"Are you quite sure you were not hurt?"</p> + +<p>"Well, my arm hurt a little at first, but it is all well +now. But I shan't go back to school,—no, not even to +please Cousin Leverett, and I like him best of any +one."</p> + +<p>"I'm going down to supper, dear. Shall I bring +up yours?"</p> + +<p>"I don't want any. I couldn't eat anything. And +I can't have Cousin Elizabeth's sharp eyes looking at +me. Oh, I'm glad I am not her little girl! I like you +a million times better, Rachel;" hugging her rapturously. +"I think I'd like to have a glass of milk. +And may I lie on your little bed?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear."</p> + +<p>She was asleep when Rachel came up and it was +past nine when she woke, drank her milk, and went to +bed for the night.</p> + +<p>How gaily the birds were singing the next morning, +and the sunbeams were playing hide-and-seek through +the branches that dance in the soft wind. All the air +was sweet and the little girl couldn't help being light-hearted. +She sang, too; not measured hymns of sorrow +and repentance, but a gay lilt that followed the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +bird voices. And she went down to breakfast and said +her good-morning cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"That child has the assurance of the Evil One," +Elizabeth thought.</p> + +<p>Cynthia waylaid Cousin Chilian as he was going +down the path.</p> + +<p>"I meant what I said yesterday. I won't go to that +school any more. If there was some other—only—only +I wish you could teach me until I could get +up straight in all the things, so the other children +wouldn't laugh when I made blunders. I suppose it +does sound funny;" and a smile hovered about the +seriousness.</p> + +<p>"We will consider another school," he returned +kindly, smiling himself at the remembrance of the +tempest of yesterday.</p> + +<p>She persuaded Rachel to go out to walk and they +went over to the bridge. She had been so interested +in the story of it. Before it had faded from the minds +of men it was to be splendidly commemorated as a +point of interest in the old town.</p> + +<p>"I like real stories," she said. "I don't understand +about the war, but it is fine to think the Salem men +made the British soldiers go back when all the while +the cannon and other arms were hidden away. You +don't mind, Rachel, if the Colonists did beat England, +do you? I'm a Colonist, you know."</p> + +<p>"That is long ago, and we are all friends now. I +think the Colonists were very brave and persevering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +and they deserved their liberty. I have heard your +father talk about the war."</p> + +<p>"Oh, when do you suppose he will come? It seems +so long to wait."</p> + +<p>Rachel smiled to keep the tears out of her eyes.</p> + +<p>Chilian Leverett made a call and a brief explanation +to Dame Wilby. She admitted she had been hasty, +but the children were unusually trying. She was +getting to be an old body and maybe she hadn't as +much patience as years ago. Cynthia said so many +odd things that the children <i>would</i> giggle. She was +slow in some things, and it seemed hard for her to +learn tables, but she was not a bad child.</p> + +<p>So the tempest blew over. Elizabeth preserved a +rather injured silence, but Eunice was cheerful and +ready to entertain Cynthia with stories of the time +when she was a little girl. Chilian arranged for her +to spend most of the mornings with him when he was +at home. She liked so very much to hear him read. +The histories of that time were rather dry and long +spun out, but he had a way of skipping the moralizing +and the endless disquisitions and adding a little more +vividness to people and incidents. It inspired him to +watch her face changing with every emotion, her eyes +deepening or brightening, and the slight mark in her +forehead where lines of perplexity crossed. Then +they would talk it all over. Often he was puzzled with +her endless "whys" that he could not rightly explain +to a child's limited understanding. Sometimes she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +would say, "Why, I would have done so," and he +found her course would be on the side of the finest +right, if not what was considered feasible.</p> + +<p>The spelling was a trial when the words were a little +obscure. And though she had a wonderful knack of +guessing at things, she surely was not born for a +mathematician. He had a fine, quick mind in that respect. +But the Latin was a delight to her and she +delved away at the difficult parts for the sake of what +she called the grand and beautiful sound. His rendering +of it enchanted her.</p> + +<p>"I don't see any sense in educating her like a boy," +declared Elizabeth. "And she can't do a decent bit +of hemming. She ought to work a sampler and learn +the letters to mark her own clothes. We did it before +we were her age. Chilian thinks you can hire people +to do these things for you, but it seems so helpless not +to be able to do them for yourself. Housekeeping is of +more account than all this folderol. She can never be +a college professor."</p> + +<p>"But women <i>are</i> keeping schools," interposed Eunice.</p> + +<p>"They don't teach Latin and all kinds of nonsense. +That Miss Miller was here a few days ago to see if we +didn't want our niece—folks are beginning to call her +that—to see if we did not want her to take lessons on +the spinet. I was so glad she did not appeal to Chilian, +though he was out. I said, 'No,' very decidedly, +'that she had a good many things to learn before she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +tackled that.' And she said she ought to be trained +while her fingers were flexible, and I said I thought +washing would make them flexible enough. And +there's fine ironing."</p> + +<p>"There's no need of either for her," protested Eunice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you don't know. There might be a war again. +And a trouble about money. I'm sure there is talk +enough and the country raising loans all the time, one +party pulling one way, one the other. People are +getting awfully extravagant nowadays. Patty Conant +gave seven dollars a yard for her new black silk, and +there were twelve yards. It broke pretty well into a +hundred, and there was some fancy gimp and fringe +and the making. Of course, there's going to be two +weddings in the family, and I don't suppose Patty +will ever buy another handsome gown at her time of +life. Abner brought her home that elegant crape +shawl, with the fringe and netting nearly half a yard +deep. Maybe 'twas a present, she let it go that +way."</p> + +<p>"Of course, there's money enough among the +Conants," Eunice commented gently.</p> + +<p>"As I said—one can't always tell what will come to +pass, nor how much need you may have for your +money. But I'm thankful my heart is not set on the +pomps and vanities of this world. And children +ought to be brought up to some useful habits."</p> + +<p>It was a fact that Cynthia did not take to the useful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +branches of womanly living. She abhorred hemming—and +such work as she made of it! Miss Eunice +groaned over it.</p> + +<p>"But you ought to have seen what I did two or +three weeks ago," and she laughed with a gay ring. +"Such stitches! When I made them nice on the top, +they were dreadful underneath, and the cotton thread +was almost black. What is the use of taking such little +bits of stitches?"</p> + +<p>"Why—they look prettier. And—it is the right +thing to do."</p> + +<p>"But you know Rachel can hem all the ruffles. And +Cousin Elizabeth said ruffles were vanity. I'd like my +frocks just as well to be plain."</p> + +<p>"There would have to be nice stitches in the +hem."</p> + +<p>"Rachel didn't sew when she was little. A great +lady took her to Scotland, to wait on her, to get her +shawl when she was a little cool, and fan her when +she was warm, and carry messages, and drive out in +the carriage with her. They had servants for everything. +And then—she was ten years old—she sent her +to a school, where she learned everything. But she +doesn't know all the tables and a great many other +things."</p> + +<p>"But she knows what fits her for her station in +life."</p> + +<p>Cynthia looked puzzled. "What is your station in +life?" she asked with an accent of curiosity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, child, it is where you are placed; and the work +of life is the duties that grow out of it—and your duty +towards God."</p> + +<p>Cynthia dropped into thought.</p> + +<p>"Then my duty now is to study. I like it; that is, +I like a good many things in it. And when my father +comes home it will be changed, I suppose. You can't +stay a little girl always."</p> + +<p>"But you will have to learn to keep house," returned +Eunice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll have some one to do that. Men never +have to cook or keep house. Oh, yes; all the cooks on +the ship were men. Wasn't that funny!" she continued.</p> + +<p>She laughed with so much innocent merriment that +Miss Eunice laughed too.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you have to do various things in your +life," she sagely remarked, after a pause.</p> + +<p>"Then you must learn to do the various things +now."</p> + +<p>"I believe I won't ever get married. I'll live with +father always, and we will have some one to keep the +house, and Rachel will make the clothes. And I'll +read aloud to father. We'll have a carriage and go +out riding, and talk about India. I remember so +many things just by thinking them over. Isn't it +queer, when for a long time they have gone out of your +mind? Oh, dear Cousin Eunice, what makes you +sigh?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>Cousin Eunice took off her glasses, wiped them vigorously, +and then wiped her eyes.</p> + +<p>"It is a bad habit I have." But she was thinking +of the dream of the little girl that could never come +true.</p> + +<p>The two days in the week that Chilian went into +Boston were long to Cynthia. She sat in his room +and studied. He had given her a small table to herself +and a shelf in a sort of miscellaneous bookcase. +He found that she never trespassed and that she did +really study her two hours, sometimes longer when +the task was not so easily mastered. There <i>was</i> some +of the old Leverett blood in her, but it had a picturesque +strain. She placed every book at its prettiest, +and her papers were gathered up and taken down to +the kitchen when she was done with them. She was +beginning to write quite well.</p> + +<p>Then in the afternoon she went to walk with Rachel +to show her the curious places Cousin Leverett had +told her about. And there were still beautiful woods +around the town, where they found wild flowers and +sassafras buds.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth was very much engrossed. She had +cleared the garret spick and span, scrubbed up the +floor, wiped off her quilting frames, and put in her +white quilt, rolling up both sides so she could get at +the middle. There was to be a circle, with clover +leaves on the outside. Then long leaves rayed off +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span>from the exact middle. She had all the patterns +marked out. When that was done a wreath went +around next—oak leaves and acorns.</p> + +<p>She had groaned over the time the little girl devoted +to Latin, but she never thought all this a waste of +precious hours. She would never need it and she +could not decide upon any relative she would like to +leave it to. There was one quilt of this pattern in +Salem and, though white quilts were made, few could +afford to spend so much time over them. There were +knitted quilts, with ball fringe around four sides, and +the tester fringed the same way. Old ladies kept up +their habits of industry in this manner when they were +past hard work.</p> + +<p>Eunice had finished her basket quilt and it was +really a work of art. But she was out in the flower +garden a good deal in the early morning and late afternoon. +Cynthia sometimes kept her company, but she +was not an expert in gardening science. In the evening +they sat out on the porch, and a neighbor called +perhaps. Or she walked over to South River if it was +moonlight. And, oh, how beautiful everything was!</p> + +<p>But it was not all quilting with Miss Elizabeth. In +July wild green grapes were gathered for preserves. +Cynthia thought it quite fun to help "pit" them. You +cut them through the middle and with a small pointed +knife took out the seeds. She tired of it presently and +did not cut them evenly, beside she was afraid of +cutting her thumb.</p> + +<p>Cousin Elizabeth went about getting dinner, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +was quite a simple thing when Chilian was away, and +at night they had a high tea.</p> + +<p>"I'll cut them," said Eunice, "and you can pick out +the seeds. But maybe you are tired;" with a glance +of solicitude.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm tired, but I'm going to keep straight on +until dinner-time," she answered pluckily.</p> + +<p>"You are a brave little girl."</p> + +<p>But Cousin Elizabeth said, "Well, for once you have +made yourself useful."</p> + +<p>There was a great point of interest just then for the +people on this side of the town. Front Street was the +old river path that had followed the shore line. One +end was known now as Wharf Street, and was beginning +to be lined with docks. Up farther to what is +now Essex Street there had stood a house with a history. +Its owner had been a Tory, and just before the +war broke out he entertained Governor Gage and the +civil and military staff. Timothy Pickering had been +summoned to the Governor's presence, but he kept +his Excellency so long in an indecent passion that the +town-meeting had to be adjourned. Troops were ordered +up from the Neck and for a while an encounter +seemed imminent. Later, when the Colonists were in +the ascendency, Colonel Browne's estate was confiscated, +and after the close of the war it was turned +over to Mr. Elias Derby. Now he was removing it +to make way for a much finer residence and, being +a notably patriotic citizen, he did not enjoy the stigma<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +of a Tory house. Parts were carried away as curiosities, +and there were some beautiful carvings and fine +newel posts that found a place in new homes as mementoes. +Afterward, Mr. Derby built the handsomest +and costliest house in Salem, with grounds laid out +magnificently.</p> + +<p>Then came a very busy time. There was preserving +that every housewife attended to for winter use, pickling +of various kinds, for there was no canning stock +in those days to eke out. There were some queer +fruits from India, and preserved ginger in curious jars +that are highly esteemed to this day, but they were +luxuries. Then a house-cleaning season, not as bad as +the spring, but still bad enough. And flower seeds to +be saved, garden seeds to be dried, so the beautiful +quilt was rolled up in a thick sheet and put away for +the present.</p> + +<p>The little girl had made quite friends with the Upham +children and went over there to tea all alone, but +she felt very strange. They played tag and blind-man's +buff, but Cynthia thought puss in the corner +the most fun. Bentley was a nice big boy and very +well mannered. Polly talked over her school and +brought out her needlework, which was to be the bottom +of a white frock. It would be only two yards +round and she had almost a yard worked. Then she +was making a sampler, with an oak and acorn vine +around it, and it was to have four different kinds of +lettering on it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know when I shall get it done," she said +with a sigh.</p> + +<p>Betty declared Dame Wilby was crosser than ever +and Priscilla Lee wasn't coming back, nor Margaret +Rand, and she was coaxing mother to let her go elsewhere.</p> + +<p>After a while Cynthia declared she must go home. +Cousin Chilian had said he would come for her, but +the clock was striking nine and he had not come. He +sometimes <i>did</i> forget.</p> + +<p>Bentley took his hat and walked beside her in quite +a mannish way.</p> + +<p>"I do hope you will come again," he said. "You +were so pleasant when you were caught, and I do +hate to have girls saying all the time, 'Now that isn't +fair,' and squirming out."</p> + +<p>"But if you're playing you must take the best and +the worst. I liked puss in the corner and didn't mind +being the left-out pussy. I thought it was quite fun to +hunt a corner again."</p> + +<p>Then they met Cousin Chilian, who had been +playing a rather prolonged game of chess with a +visitor. But Bentley kept on with them, and said +good-night with a polite bow, adding, "She must +come again, Mr. Leverett, we had such a very nice +time."</p> + +<p>"And wasn't he nice!" exclaimed the child eagerly. +"He is like some of the grown-up men. I like big +boys much better than the little ones."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + +<p>He smiled to himself at that.</p> + +<p>Now there came cool nights and mornings, but the +world was beautiful in its turning leaves, the fragrance +of ripening fruit, and the late gorgeous-colored flowers. +They took delightful walks and found so many +curious places. Sometimes Bentley Upham met them +and joined in their walks and talks. He thought the +little girl knew a great deal. And that she had been +in India, and China, and ever so many of the islands, +was wonderful.</p> + +<p>"Don't you ever sew?" he asked one afternoon, as +they were rambling about.</p> + +<p>"I don't like it much;" and she glanced up with +fascinating archness. "I suppose I shall have to +some day, but Cousin Leverett thinks there is time +enough."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you don't," in a hearty tone. "I don't +have any good of Polly any more. What with her +white frock, and some lace she is making for a cape, +and forty other things, she never has time for a game +of anything, or a nice walk. And she doesn't care +about study, though her lessons are so different. I +don't know another girl who studies Latin, and it's so +nice to talk it over. How rapidly you must have +learned."</p> + +<p>He looked at her in admiration.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I knew some of it before I came here. There +was a chaplain in Calcutta who was—well, not exactly +ill, but not well; and father took him with us on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +vessel when he went for certain things, and he staid +with us afterward. He used to read aloud, and it +sounded so splendid! Then he taught me. But +Cousin Leverett said it wasn't quite right, so I am +going over it. And he is teaching me a little +French."</p> + +<p>"You know they think women don't need to know +much beside housekeeping and sewing. I just hate to +hear about ruffles cut on the straight or bias, and I +couldn't tell what Dacca muslin, or jaconet, or dimity +was to save myself. And eyelet work and French +knots and run lace—that's what the big girls who +come to see Polly talk about. But I like books, +and studies, and different countries. I'd like to +travel. But I don't know that I want to be a sea +captain."</p> + +<p>They found some queer old houses that were odd +enough. Mr. Leverett said they were almost two +hundred years old, and that at first the place kept the +old Indian name, Naumkeag. But the Reverend Francis +Higginson gave it a new name out of the Bible—"In +Salem also is His tabernacle." The early pilgrims +built a chapel at once.</p> + +<p>"How close the houses are!"</p> + +<p>It was a row that had survived the hand of improvement. +There was a huge central chimney-stack, +big enough for a modern factory, and the house +seemed built around it. The second story overhung +the first, and in some of them were small dormer win<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span>dows +looking like bird houses. And the little panes +of greenish glass seemed to make windows all framework.</p> + +<p>Cynthia was much interested in the Roger Williams +house, and the story of the old minister.</p> + +<p>"Why, I thought religion made people good and +pleasant——" Then she checked herself, for often +Cousin Elizabeth was <i>not</i> pleasant. And she seemed +more religious than Cousin Eunice. And Cousin Chilian +rarely scolded or said a cross word—he never +talked about religion, but he went to church on Sunday; +they all did. She studied the Catechism, she +could learn easily when she had a mind to, but she +didn't understand it at all. She shocked Elizabeth by +her irreverent questions. There was the old horn-book +primer with—</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="In Adam's fall"> +<tr><td align='left'>"In Adam's fall</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">We sinned all."</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>"I don't see how that could be when we were not +there!" she said almost defiantly.</p> + +<p>"It means the nature we inherited."</p> + +<p>"But I don't think that fair!"</p> + +<p>"You don't know, you never can understand +until you are in a state of grace. Don't ask such +impertinent questions. You are a little heathen +child."</p> + +<p>Then she asked Cousin Chilian what "a state of +grace" meant.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think it is the willingness to do right, to be truthful, +kindly, obliging. It is all comprised in the Golden +Rule—to love God with all your heart and your neighbor +as yourself, not to do anything to him that you +would not like to have done to yourself, and to do to +him whatever you would like him to do for you. That +is enough for a little girl."</p> + +<p>"That sounds like Confucius," she said thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>But she went back to Roger Williams when Bentley +said he was one of his heroes.</p> + +<p>"What did he do?" she asked, interested.</p> + +<p>"Well, he founded the City of Providence. And if +William Penn is to be honored for founding a city of +brotherly love, Roger Williams deserves it for establishing +a city where different sects should agree without +persecuting each other. You see, they banished +him from Salem back to England because he thought +a man had some right to his own opinions, so long as +he worshipped God. So he went to Providence instead. +He walked all the way with just his pocket +compass to guide him, and how he must have worked +to make a dwelling-place for himself and his friends +in the dead of winter! There were some Quakers +already there, who had been banished from other settlements, +and they all resolved to be friendly. Yes, I +call him a hero!"</p> + +<p>Cynthia studied the house with the little courtyard +and the great tree shading it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Polly said it was the Witch House," she remarked.</p> + +<p>"That was because there were trials for witchcraft. +You are too young to hear about that," Chilian said +decisively, with a glance at Bentley.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>SORROW'S CROWN OF SORROW</h3> + + +<p>Occasionally they went down to the warehouse, and +while Chilian was busy some of the captains or mates +would speak to her. They knew about her father and +one sad fact she did not know. For she had settled +in her mind that Captain Corwin would bring him back +and that it would take a long, long while. So she tried +to be content and if not teasing or fretting was one of +the ways of being good, she tried her utmost to keep +to that. She was too brave to tell falsehoods to shield +herself from any inadvertent wrongdoing, even if +Cousin Elizabeth did sometimes say:</p> + +<p>"You ought to be soundly whipped. To spare the +rod is to spoil the child."</p> + +<p>She thought if anybody ever did whip her she +should hate him all the rest of her life. Servants +and workmen were beaten in India, and it seemed degrading. +She did not know that Cousin Chilian had +insisted that she should never be struck. He was understanding +more every day how her father had loved +her, and finding sweet traits in her unfolding.</p> + +<p>She liked these rough bronzed men to touch their +odd hats to her and call her Missy. Some of them had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +seen her in Calcutta and knew her father. And when +she said, "It takes a long, long while to go there and +come back, but when Captain Corwin brings him he is +going to live here and will never go to sea any more"—"No, +that he never will, missy;" and the sailor +drew his hand across his eyes.</p> + +<p>Oh, how full the wharves were with shipping! +Flags and pennons waved, and white sails; others, +gray with age and weather, flapped in the wind. She +liked to see them start out; she always sent a message +by them in the full faith of childhood. And there were +the fishermen in the cove lower down. Fishing was +quite a great business.</p> + +<p>Cousin Giles had made his visit and spent two whole +days down in the warehouse, when they had not taken +her. But she helped Cousin Eunice cut the stems of +the sweet garden herbs for drying, and the others for +perfumery. There was lavender, the blossoms had +been gathered long ago, and sweet marjoram and +sweet clover. She always gathered the full-blown rose +leaves and sewed them up in little bags and laid them +among the household stores. Everything was so fragrant. +Cynthia thought she liked it better than sandalwood +and the pungent Oriental perfumes.</p> + +<p>Then came the autumnal storms, when the vessels +hugged the docks securely at anchor. The house was +chilly all through and fires were in order. Some two +or three miles below there was a wreck of an East +Indiaman, and for days fragments floated around.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +Some lives were lost, and the little girl shuddered over +the accounts.</p> + +<p>All the foliage began to turn and fall. The late +flowers hung their heads. It had been a beautiful +autumn, people said to pay up for the late spring.</p> + +<p>There had been a little discussion about a school +again.</p> + +<p>"She seems so small, and in some things diffident," +Chilian said. "The winters are long and cold, and she +has not been used to them. Cousin Giles thinks her +very delicate."</p> + +<p>"She isn't like children raised here, but she's quite +as strong as common. She oughtn't be pampered and +made any more finicking than she is. A girl almost +ten. What is she going to be good for, I'd like to +know?"</p> + +<p>Cousin Giles had not made much headway with her. +He was large and strong with an emphatic voice, and +a head of thick, strong white hair, a rather full face, +and penetrating eyes. He had advised about investments, +though he thought no place had the outlook of +Boston. But Salem was ahead of her in foreign trade.</p> + +<p>Chilian Leverett felt very careful of the little girl. +For if she died a large part of her fortune came to him. +He really wished it had not been left that way. There +was an East India Marine Society that had many +curiosities—stored in rooms on the third floor of the +Stearns building. It had a wider scope than that and +was to assist widows and orphans of deceased mem<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>bers, +who were all to be those "who had actually navigated +the seas beyond Cape of Good Hope, or Cape +Horn, as masters or supercargoes of vessels belonging +to Salem." To this Anthony had bequeathed many +curiosities and a gift. There was talk of enlarging its +scope, which was begun shortly after this.</p> + +<p>Matters had settled to an amicable basis in the Leverett +house. Rachel had won the respect of Elizabeth, +who prayed daily for her conversion from heathendom +and that she might see the claims the Christian religion +had upon her. Eunice and she were more really +friendly. She made some acquaintances outside and +most people thought she must be some relation of the +captain's. She had proved herself very efficient in +several cases of illness, for in those days neighbors +were truly neighborly.</p> + +<p>Cynthia did shrink from the cold, though there were +good fires kept in the house. This winter Chilian had +a stove put up in the hall, very much against Elizabeth's +desires. Quite large logs could be slipped in +and they would lie there and smoulder, lasting sometimes +all night. It was a great innovation and extravagance, +though wood seemed almost inexhaustible in +those days. And it was considered unhealthy to sleep +in warm rooms, though people would shut themselves +up close and have no fresh air.</p> + +<p>Then the snow came, but it was a greater success in +the inland towns, and there were sledding and sleigh-riding. +The boys and girls had great times building<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +forts and having snowballing contests. But the little +girl caught a cold and had a cough that alarmed her +guardian a good deal and made him more indulgent +than ever, to Elizabeth's disgust.</p> + +<p>She was not really ill, only pale and languid and +seemed to grow thinner. She was much fairer than +any one could have supposed and her eyes looked +large and wistful. Chilian put some pillows in the big +rocking-chair and tilted it back so that she could almost +lie down on it.</p> + +<p>"You are so good to me," she would say with her +sweet, faint smile.</p> + +<p>Bentley came in now and then of an evening, and +she liked to hear what they were doing at school. +Polly, too, made visits; they had a half-holiday on +Saturday. She always brought some work, and Elizabeth +considered her a very industrious girl. She was +going to a birthday party of one of her mates.</p> + +<p>"What do they do at parties?" inquired the little +girl.</p> + +<p>"Oh, they play games. There's stagecoach. Everybody +but one has a seat. He blows a horn and +sings out, 'Stage for Boston,' or any place. Then +every one has to change seats. Such a scrambling and +scurrying time! and the one who gets left has to take +the horn."</p> + +<p>"It's something like puss in the corner."</p> + +<p>"Only ever so many can play this. Then there's +'What's my thought like?' That's rather hard, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +funny. I like twirling the platter. If you don't catch +it when it comes near you, you must pay a forfeit. +And redeeming them is lots of fun, for you are told +to do all sorts of ridiculous things. Then there's some +goodies and mottoes and you can exchange with a boy. +But Kate Saltonstall's big sister had a party where +they danced. Eliza wanted some dancing, but her +mother said so many people did not approve of it for +children."</p> + +<p>"And don't you have some one to come and dance +for you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a queer idea! The fun is in dancing +yourself with a real nice boy. Some people think it +awfully wrong. Do you, Miss Winn?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed. When I was a child in England we +went out and danced on the green. Everybody did. +And when there were doings at the great houses—like +Christmas, and weddings, and coming of age—the +ladies, in their silks and satins and laces, came down +in the servants' hall and danced with the butler and +the footmen, and my lord took out some of the maids. +I don't think dancing hurts any one."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to hear you say that, Miss Winn. They +are talking of having a dancing-class in school. I +hope mother will let me join it."</p> + +<p>"And they teach it in schools there."</p> + +<p>"And why shouldn't they here?" said Polly.</p> + +<p>To be sure. Cynthia was much interested and made +Polly promise to come again and tell her all about it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +Old Salem was awakening rapidly from her rigid +torpor.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if I could ever have a party," she said +to Cousin Leverett that evening. "When father +comes home we might have what they did at the Perkinses +when they went in their new place—a house-warming. +Is that like a party?"</p> + +<p>"About the same thing."</p> + +<p>"Cousin Elizabeth thinks it wicked. Wouldn't she +think dancing wicked?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid she would."</p> + +<p>Cynthia sighed. No, she couldn't have a party here.</p> + +<p>She waited quite eagerly for Polly's account. The +little girl was in her own room. Miss Winn had gone +out to get some medicine. Cynthia tried to be well +sometimes, so she would not have to take the nauseous +stuff. No one had invented medicated sugar pills at +that time. She liked Cousin Elizabeth's cough syrup.</p> + +<p>Polly was overflowing with spirits.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I want to be big, right away. Bella Saltonstall +was there and she's going into company next winter, +she says. And she showed us some of the dancing +steps and they just bewitch you. It's like this"—and +Polly picked up her frock in a dainty manner and +whirled about the vacant spaces in the room.</p> + +<p>"But doesn't it tire you dreadfully? The girls in +India stand still a great deal more and just sway about. +They come in and dance for you."</p> + +<p>"Tire you! Oh, no. That's the great fun, to do it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +yourself. Bella said it was—ex—something, and the +word is in the spelling-book, but I never can remember +the long words. Oh, I just wish I was fifteen and +wasn't going to school any more. And then there's +keeping company and getting married, and having +your setting out. School seems stupid. There were +two boys who wanted to come home with me, but +mother said Ben must. Then I wished—well, I wished +he was in college. He wants to go. Father says Mr. +Leverett has infected him with the craze."</p> + +<p>"If I was a boy, I'd like to go. Cousin Leverett is +going to take me to Harvard next summer when they +have their grand closing time."</p> + +<p>"I'd rather be a girl and have a nice beau."</p> + +<p>Plainly Polly had been saturated with dissipation.</p> + +<p>Spring was suggesting her advent. The days were +longer. The snow was disappearing.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Cousin Leverett, look—there are some buds +on the trees!" she cried.</p> + +<p>"Yes. You can see them at intervals through the +winter. They are wise little things, and swell and then +shrink back in the cold."</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad. I can soon go out. I get very tired +some days. I like summer best."</p> + +<p>"Yes. I do hope we shall have an early spring."</p> + +<p>She looked up with smiling gladness.</p> + +<p>That afternoon she had fallen asleep in the big chair. +How almost transparent she was. The long lashes +lay on the whiteness of her cheek—yes, it was really<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +white. And there was very little color in her +lips.</p> + +<p>Abner Hayes came up from the warehouse with +some papers the <i>Ulysses</i> had just brought in.</p> + +<p>"That the captain's poor little girl?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; she's asleep. She hasn't been very well this +winter, but the first nice balmy day I shall take her +out driving. I've been almost afraid to have the air +blow on her."</p> + +<p>"Yes, she ought to live and enjoy all that big fortune. +It's a thousand pities the captain couldn't have +come back and enjoyed it with her. But we must all +go when our time comes. You never hear a hard word +said about him, and sure's there's a heaven he is +in it."</p> + +<p>Chilian held up his finger. Then he signed a paper +that had to go back, and asked if the cargo of the +<i>Ulysses</i> was in good shape.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth called him downstairs after that. There +was a poor man wanting some sort of a position and +Chilian promised to look out for him. He had been +porter in a store, but the heavy lifting made him cough. +He would have to get something lighter.</p> + +<p>When he returned Cynthia was standing by his +table, white as a little ghost. He almost dropped into +the chair.</p> + +<p>"Was I dreaming, or did that man say my father +couldn't come back to Salem, that he—that he +was——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + +<p>She swayed almost as if she would fall. He drew +her down on his knee and her head sank on his shoulder. +She was so still that he was startled. How many +times he had wondered how he would get her told. +Perhaps it had been wrong to wait.</p> + +<p>"My little girl! My little Cynthia——"</p> + +<p>"Wait," she breathed, and he held her closer. He +had come to love her very much, though he had taken +her unwillingly.</p> + +<p>"Is it true? But no one would say such a thing if +it were not. I had been asleep. I woke just as he said +that. Perhaps I had been dreaming about our being +together. And it seemed at first as if my tongue was +stiff and I couldn't even make a sound. Did he go to +heaven without me?"</p> + +<p>Oh, what should he say to comfort her! She had so +many feelings far under the surface.</p> + +<p>"My little dear," and his voice was infinitely fond, +"I want to tell you that he loved your mother tenderly. +No one could have been better loved. In the course of +a few hours she was snatched away from him. You +were so little—five years ago. I doubt if there was +ever a day in which he did not think of her. When +you are grown and come to love some one with the +strength of your whole heart, you will understand how +great it is. And when the summons came for him his +first thought was that he should see her, and with the +next he must find a new home for his little girl, so he +gave you to me. It is very hard just now, but you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +must think how happy they are together. Perhaps +they both know you are here, where you will be cared +for and made happy, for we all love you. Every one +has not the same way of showing love, but Cousin +Elizabeth has done everything she could for you this +winter. And we don't want to lose you. You won't +grudge them a few years together in that happy +place?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, are you quite sure there <i>is</i> a heaven?"</p> + +<p>Oh, Cynthia, you are not the first one who has asked +to have it certified.</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear; very sure," in the tone of faith.</p> + +<p>"He loved mother very much?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>There was a long silence. He felt the slow beating +of her little heart.</p> + +<p>"Then I ought to be content, since he gave me to +you, when he knew he was going away."</p> + +<p>"It would have been very sad if you had been left +alone there. Out of his great love he planned it this +way, thinking the tidings would not come so hard +after a while. And now you can always recall him as +you saw him last and just think, in a moment of time +God called and he stepped over the narrow space that +seems such a mystery to us and met <i>her</i>. I wish we +didn't invest death with so much that is painful, for it +is God's way of calling us to a better land where there +are no more partings. Sometime you and I will go +over to them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I shouldn't feel afraid with you," she commented +simply.</p> + +<p>When the tea bell rang she asked to be carried to +her room and laid on Rachel's little bed. He kissed +her gently and turned away.</p> + +<p>The next was his day in Boston. But late in the +afternoon, after Miss Eunice had been visiting her an +hour or so, she went to the study and sat by the window, +where she could see him come. He glanced up +and she waved her hand daintily. All day he had +been wondering how he should find her.</p> + +<p>"I haven't coughed but a very little to-day," she +exclaimed. "Cousin Elizabeth made some new syrup. +And the doctor was in. He said I was a little lazy, +that I must be more energetic."</p> + +<p>"I've been ordering a new carriage to-day. The old +one was hardly worth repairing. And when you are +stronger I think I'll buy a gentle pony and we can go +out riding. You would not be afraid after a little?"</p> + +<p>"Not with you."</p> + +<p>Her confidence was very sweet.</p> + +<p>"I'm going down to tea to-night. I was down at +noon."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are improving. I hope there will come +some warm weather and balmy airs."</p> + +<p>"It was beautiful last spring. You know I never +saw a real spring before."</p> + +<p>She was bearing her loss and her sorrow beautifully. +All day she had been thinking of the joy of those two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +when they met on the confines of that beautiful world. +It made heaven seem so near, so real. Sometimes the +tears came to her eyes. She was Cousin Chilian's little +girl, so why should she feel lonely!</p> + +<p>Once in a number of years spring comes early. It +did this time, at the close of the century. People shook +their heads and talked about "weather-breeders," and +mentioned snow as late as May, when fruit trees +had been in bloom. But nature had turned over a +bright, clear leaf, that made the book of time fairly +shine.</p> + +<p>The carriage came and Cynthia was taken out. +Miss Elizabeth wrapped her up like a mummy, and +would put a brick, swathed in coverings, in the bottom +for her feet. He had taken the ladies out occasionally, +but of late years the sisters had been so busy they had +little time for pleasure, they thought.</p> + +<p>They crossed North Bridge and went up Danvers +way. Oh, how lovely it was with the trees in baby +leaf, and some wild things blossoming. And even +then industry had planted itself. There on the farther +bank of Waters River was the iron mill, where Dr. +Nathan Read invented his scheme for cut nails. And +he built a paddle-wheel steamboat that was a success +before Robert Fulton tried his. And they passed the +Page house, where General Gage had his office, and +Madam Page had tea on the roof, because they had +promised not to use tea in the house.</p> + +<p>That amused Cynthia and he also told her of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +woman, when tea first came to the country, who boiled +the leaves and seasoned them, passing them around to +her guests, who didn't think they were anything much +in the vegetable line and too expensive ever to become +general.</p> + +<p>Birds sang about them, flocks of wild geese had +started on their northward journey. What a wonderful +world it was! And her father had been a boy here +in Salem village, had lived in Cousin Chilian's house +in the father's time, and her mother had been married +in the stately parlor. Why, she could dream of their +being real guests of the place. How odd she should +come to live here. The life in India would be the +dream presently.</p> + +<p>She was very tired when Chilian lifted her out of +the carriage and took her upstairs. Rachel put her +to bed for a while and gave her a cup of hot tea—mint +and catnip—which was a great restorer, or so +considered, in those days. She came down to supper +and was quite bright.</p> + +<p>Every day she improved a little. Eunice said she +was getting 'climated.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth wondered if she had any deep feeling. +She had expected to see her "take on" terribly. Chilian +begged her not to disturb the child's faith that +both parents were in heaven.</p> + +<p>"Letty Orne, that was, might have been one of the +elect, but sea captains are seldom considered safe in +the fold, as children of grace. I never heard that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +had any evidence. And 'tisn't safe to count on meeting +them unless you've had some sign."</p> + +<p>"We must leave a good many of these things to +God. His ways are better than our short-sighted +wisdom."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth was never quite sure of Chilian. So much +study, and reading, and college talk, and the new +theories, and what they called discoveries, were enough +to unsettle one's faith, and she feared for him. +Younger children than Cynthia had gone through the +throes of conviction—she had herself, and she longed +to see her in this state.</p> + +<p>But the child was quite her olden self. What with +the change of climate and her illness she was many +shades fairer, and her hair was losing its queer sunburned +color. Her thin frame began to fill out, her +face grew rounder, and her smile was sweetness itself.</p> + +<p>"But she hasn't grown a mite since she came. Leverett +people are all of a fair size. I don't know a little +runt among them," persisted Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could grow," she sighed in confidence to +Chilian.</p> + +<p>"Never mind. Then you will always be my little +girl," he would answer consolingly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>LESSONS OF LIFE</h3> + + +<p>Even Chilian wondered that the little girl took the +death of her father so calmly. Elizabeth called it unnatural +and questioned whether the child had any deep +feeling.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe she's shed a tear. And, Eunice, the +child ought to go in black."</p> + +<p>The child was trying to get used to changed ideas. +If her mother was glad and happy, now that they were +again united, why should she be sorry? It seemed +selfish to her as if she grudged them the joy. And +Cousin Chilian was trying every way to entertain her, +to help her on to perfect recovery. Sometimes, when +she sat alone in the study, the soft eyes would overflow +and the tears course silently down her cheeks. +She never cried in the tempestuous way of some children. +But she knew now she had counted a good deal +on their having a home together. Rachel would keep +the house and she and her father would take walks +and have a garden, where she could cut flowers and +have them in the house. Cousin Elizabeth said they +made a litter. And now she should never go down to +the wharf and see him standing on the deck, and wave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +her hand to him, as she used when he went on short +journeys in India. They would have a low carry-all +and ride around, as she would tell him all she had +learned about Salem. And they would have people +in to drink tea and have pretty dishes on the table. +Perhaps he would give her a party. But she didn't +know any children, except the Uphams. It might be +better to go to school so that she could get acquainted.</p> + +<p>Chilian was a good deal startled about the black +garments.</p> + +<p>"She is so little and thin," he objected. "I never +did like children in black; it seems as if you weighted +them down with woe. And he has been dead so many +months now."</p> + +<p>"But one ought to pay decent respect to a custom +sanctioned by all civilized people. There will be a talk +about it. Folks may think it our fault."</p> + +<p>"I do not believe half a dozen people would notice +it. It's only a custom after all. I never did like it. +We will see how she feels about it."</p> + +<p>"Chilian, you make that child of as much importance +as if she was a woman grown. You will have +your hands full by and by. She will think every +one must bow down to her and consult her whims and +fancies."</p> + +<p>"We will see;" nodding indifferently.</p> + +<p>He didn't want her around in garments of woe. +Very gently he mentioned the subject.</p> + +<p>She glanced up out of sweet, entreating eyes. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +had been standing by him, looking over a very choice +book of engravings.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she returned. "Rachel spoke of it. And +you know there are some people who wear white, and +some who put on yellow. Black isn't a nice color. +Do you like it?"</p> + +<p>He shook his head.</p> + +<p>"It is the inside of me that aches now and then, +when I think I shall never see him come sailing back, +that I must be a long while without him until I go to +their land. But he must be very happy with mother, +and that is what I think of when I feel how hard it +is;" and the tears stole softly down her cheeks. "I +have Rachel and you, and he said you would always +love me and care for me. But I try not to feel sorry, +and if I had on a black frock I couldn't help but think +of it all the time. Then I should be sorry inside and +outside both, and is it right to make yourself unhappy +when you believe people have gone to heaven?"</p> + +<p>She said it so simply that he was deeply moved. She +had been alone with her sorrow all this time, when +they had thought her indifferent.</p> + +<p>"You need not wear black—I wish you would not. +I want you to get real well and happy. And you are a +brave little girl to think of them and refrain from +grief."</p> + +<p>She wiped away the tears lest they should fall on +the book.</p> + +<p>"At first it was quite dreadful to me. I couldn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +say anything. Then I remembered how we used to +talk of mother, as if she was only in the next room. +And then I sit here and think, when the sky is such +a splendid blue and there come little white rifts in it, +as if somewhere it opened, I can almost see them. +Can't people come back for a few moments?"</p> + +<p>"Only in dreams, I imagine."</p> + +<p>"I can <i>almost</i> see them. And they are so glad to +be together. And I know father says, 'Cynthia will +come by and by.' But twenty years, or thirty years, is +a long while to wait."</p> + +<p>Perhaps she wouldn't need to wait so long, he +thought, as he noted the transparent face.</p> + +<p>"And now I should be sorry to go away from you," +she said, with grave sweetness.</p> + +<p>"I think your father meant you should stay a long +while with me when he gave you to me;" and he +pressed her closer to his heart.</p> + +<p>So she did not wear mourning, to Elizabeth's very +real displeasure. There was no further talk about the +school, but she did try to sew a little and began the +sampler. Cousin Eunice was her guide here. She +brought out hers that was over fifty years old, and all +the colors were fading.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if I shall live fifty years," she mused.</p> + +<p>Driving about was her great entertainment. You +could go to Marblehead, which was a peninsula. +There were the fishery huts and the men curing and +drying fish. Sometimes they took passage in one of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +the numerous sailing vessels and went in and out the +irregular shore, and saw Boston from the bay. It +seemed in those times as if it might get drowned out, +there was so much water around it.</p> + +<p>"And if it should float off out to sea, some day," +she half inquired, laughingly.</p> + +<p>He was glad to hear her soft, sweet laugh again.</p> + +<p>She thought she liked Salem best, and even now people +began to talk of old Salem, there had been so many +improvements since the time Governor Bradford had +written:</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Almost ten years we lived here alone"> +<tr><td align='left'>"Almost ten years we lived here alone,—</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>In other places there were few or none;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>For Salem was the next of any fame</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>That began to augment New England's name."</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>And then it went by the old Indian name and was +called Naumkeag. And she found that it was older +than Boston, and had been the seat of government +twice, and that Governor Burnett, finding Boston unmanageable, +had convened the General Court here for +two years. That was in 1728, and now it was 1800.</p> + +<p>"But no one lives a hundred years," she said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; there are a number of persons who have +lived that long. Now and then a person lives in three +centuries, is born the last year of one, goes through a +whole century, and dies in the next one."</p> + +<p>"What a long, long while!" she sighed.</p> + +<p>And there was the old Court House where the +Stamp Act was denounced. She wanted to know all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +about that, and he was fond of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'exlaining'">explaining</ins> things, the +sort of teacher habit, but there was nothing dogmatic +about it. Here were houses where the Leveretts had +lived, third or fourth cousins who had married with +the Graingers, and the Lyndes, and the Saltonstalls, +and the Hales. It is so in the course of a hundred +or two years, when emigration does not come in to +disturb the purity of the blood.</p> + +<p>The little girl really began to improve. Her hair +was taking on a brighter tint and in the warm weather +the uneven ends curled about her forehead in dainty +rings, her complexion was many shades fairer, her +cheeks rounded out, and her chin began to show the +cleft in it. She was more like her olden self, quite +merry at times.</p> + +<p>The summer went on as usual. Gardening, berry-picking, +and she helped with the gooseberries, the +briery vines she did not like. There were jars of jam +and preserves, rose leaves to gather, and all the mornings +were crowded full. Often in the afternoon she +went up in the garret to see Miss Eunice spin—sometimes +on the big wheel, at others with flax on the small +wheel. She liked the whirring sound, and it was a +mystery to her how the thread came out so fine and +even.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth had taken the white quilt out of its wrappings, +it did not get finished the summer before. A +neighbor had let her copy a new pattern for the border +that had come from New York. And she heard there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +had been imported white woven quilts with wonderful +figures in them.</p> + +<p>"Then one wouldn't have to quilt any more. +Shan't you be glad, Cousin Elizabeth?"</p> + +<p>"Glad!" She gave a kind of snort and pushed the +needle into her finger, and had to stop lest a drop of +blood might mar the whiteness. "Well, I'm not as lazy +as that comes to, and I don't see how they can put much +beauty in them. You can change blue and white and +show a pattern, but where it is all white! Why, you +couldn't tell it from a tablecloth."</p> + +<p>It was warm up in the garret, and what with drying +herbs, and the sun pouring on the shingles, there was +a rather close, peculiar air. Cynthia stood by the open +window, where the sweet summer wind went by, laden +with the fragrance of newly cut grasses and the silk of +the corn that was just tasselling out. The hills rose up, +tree-crowned; white clouds floated by overhead, and +out beyond was the great ocean that led to other countries—to +India she thought of so often.</p> + +<p>Oh, how the birds sang! She was so sorry Cousin +Eunice had to sit and spin, when there was such a +beautiful world all around, and Cousin Elizabeth +pricked her fingers quilting. She heard her sigh, but +she did not dare look around. She had that nice sense +of delicacy, rather unusual in a child. But then she +wasn't an everyday child.</p> + +<p>"Cynthia," called Rachel from the foot of the stairs, +"don't you want to go out for a walk? They've been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +unloading the <i>Mingo</i>, and they have a store of new +things at the Merrits'."</p> + +<p>That was the great East India emporium.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!" She skipped across the floor and ran +downstairs lightly.</p> + +<p>"That child's like a whirlwind," exclaimed Elizabeth +crossly.</p> + +<p>"But we ought to be glad she's so much better. I +was really afraid in the spring we wouldn't have her +long."</p> + +<p>"Oh, the Leverett stock is tough."</p> + +<p>"But her mother died young."</p> + +<p>"Of that horrid India fever. No, I didn't truly +think she would die. If she had, I wonder where all +the money would go? Chilian is awful close-mouthed +about it. But it would have to go somewhere. 'Tisn't +at all likely he'd leave word for it to be thrown back +in the sea."</p> + +<p>"No; oh, no."</p> + +<p>"There's some talk about missionaries going out +to try to convert the heathen. But Giles thinks it +would cost more than it would amount to. Giles has +got way off; seems to me religion's dying out since +they've begun to preach easy ways of getting to heaven +and letting the bars down here and there. There's no +struggle and sense of conviction nowadays; you just +take it up as a business. And that child talks about +heaven as if she'd had a glimpse of it and saw her +father and mother there. Letty Orne was a church<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +member in her younger days, but I don't believe the +captain ever was. And they who don't repent will +surely perish."</p> + +<p>Eunice sighed. She could never get used to the +thought that thousands of souls were brought into the +world to perish eternally.</p> + +<p>Cynthia tied on her Leghorn hat. It did have some +black ribbon on it, and the strings were passed under +her chin and tied at one side. That and her silken +gown gave her a quaint appearance, rather striking +as well.</p> + +<p>They walked down the street and turned corners. +There was quite a procession of ladies bound for the +same place. If they had been all buyers, Mr. Merrit +would have made quite a fortune. But he was glad +to have them come. They would describe the stock +to their neighbors, and perhaps decide on what they +wanted for themselves.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Miss Winn!" exclaimed a pleasant-faced +woman. "And that is Captain Leverett's little girl? +Why, she looks as if she was quite well again. We +heard of her being so poorly. I suppose the shock of +her father's death was dreadful! Poor little thing! +And she's to be quite an heiress, I heard. What are +they going to do with her? Won't she be sent to Boston +to school?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I think not. Mr. Leverett has been teaching +her a little."</p> + +<p>They had fairly to elbow their way in. Long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +counters were piled with goods. Silks, laces, sheerest +of muslins embroidered beautifully, lace wraps, India +shawls, jewelry, caps, collars, handkerchiefs, stockings, +slippers that were dainty enough for a Cinderella.</p> + +<p>And all down one side were ranged tables, and jars, +and vases, and articles one could hardly find a name +for. Such exquisite carving, such odd figures painted +and embroidered on silk, birds the like of which were +never seen on land or sea, dragons that flew, and +crawled, and climbed trees, and disported themselves +on waves.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it looks like home," cried Cynthia, for the +moment forgetting herself. And she kept sauntering +round among the beautiful things, her heart growing +strangely light, and her pulses throbbing with a sort +of joy.</p> + +<p>She was almost hidden by a great pile of tapestry. +The Indians had found some secrets of beauty as well +as France, if they did make it with infinite pains. And +this was made with the little hand-looms and joined +together so neatly and the colors blended so harmoniously +that it was like a dream. Only the little girl +did not like the dragons and strange animals. She had +never seen any real ones like them. They were in the +stories Nalla used to tell.</p> + +<p>Then some one else spoke to Miss Winn. "Is your +little charge here?" she asked. "I'm quite anxious to +see her. I've called twice on the Leveretts, and really +asked for her once when they said she was quite ill.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +But I saw her out in the carriage with—isn't it her +uncle? No? And she's to be very well to do, I've +heard. The idea of the Leverett women undertaking +to bring up a child! They're good as gold and some +of the best housekeepers in Salem, but I dare say +they'll teach her to knit stockings, and make bedquilts, +and braid rag mats, and do fifty-year-old things—make +a regular little Puritan of her. I knew her mother +quite well before she was married. Doesn't seem as if +we were near of an age and went to school together. +But some of the Ornes married in our line. And I was +married when I was seventeen, and now I'm a grandmother. +How the years do fly on! And she had to +die out in that heathen land; he too. Wasn't it odd +about sending her here beforehand? I do want to see +her."</p> + +<p>"She is somewhere about, interested in all these +foreign things." Miss Winn was not quite sure +of the chattering woman. She had learned that the +Leverett ladies were exclusive, whether from inclination +or lack of time. They asked their minister and a +few old family friends in to tea on rare occasions, and +then it was cooking and baking and cleaning up the +choice old silver and dusting and polishing, and the +next day clearing up. Everything out of the routine +made so much extra work. Among the few English-speaking +people in India there had been a sort of free +and easy sociability.</p> + +<p>Cynthia meanwhile had slipped around the end of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +the counter and came up to them. She wanted to see +the woman who had been to school with her mother. +Then her mother was a little girl, perhaps no older +than she. Did she like it? Cynthia wondered.</p> + +<p>"This is Captain Leverett's little daughter," Rachel +announced rather stiffly.</p> + +<p>"My—but you don't favor your mother at all. I'm +Mrs. Turner and I knew her off and on. We lived +about thirty miles above here. Then her folks died +and she went to Boston, but she used to be at the Leveretts' +a good deal. I married and came here. I'm +living up North River way and have a house full of +children—like steps—and one grandchild, and I'm +just on the eve of thirty-seven. I've one little girl +about your age, but she's ever so much bigger. I'd +like you to be friends with her. The next older is a +girl, too. Why, you'd have real nice times if the old +aunties were willing. Do they keep her strict? And +she's going to be a considerable heiress, I heard. I +wonder where her eyes came from? They're not +Leverett eyes, and her mother's were a clear blue, real +china blue, but then there's different blues in china," +and she laughed. "Sad about the captain, wasn't it? +He should have lived to enjoy his fortune, and now his +little girl will have it all. I must come and scrape +acquaintance for the sake of my girls. You'd like +them, I know, they're full of fun. We're not strait-laced +people—that's going out of date."</p> + +<p>Then she passed on. They wandered about a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +more among the vases and jars and the paintings on +silk. The air was heavy with sandalwood, and attar +of rose, and incense. The fragrance seemed never to +die out of those old things that became family heirlooms.</p> + +<p>"Come," Rachel said, taking her by the hand. It +was quite late in the afternoon now, and the shadows +of everything were growing longer. She could not understand +why it was at first, but now she knew. And +the sun would be round there in Asia presently. In +her secret heart she still believed the sun went round +and the earth stood still, for in the movement people +<i>must</i> slip off. But then what held it in the air? +Cousin Chilian had a globe, but you see there was a +strong wire through the middle, fastened to the frame +at both ends. Perhaps the earth was fastened somewhere! +She liked to make it revolve on its axis, and +in imagination she crossed the oceans, and seas, and +capes, and found her father again.</p> + +<p>The stage had just come in. They paused on the +corner, waiting for Cousin Chilian. Some one was +with him—yes, it was Cousin Giles Leverett.</p> + +<p>"Well, little woman," he began, "so I find you out +here meandering round, and so much improved that I +hardly know you. We were afraid in the winter you +were going to slip away and leave all this fortune behind +you, never having had a bit of good of it. But +you look now as if you had taken a new lease. And +you are positively growing!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + +<p>Chilian smiled at the remark. He had begun to +think so himself. And she looked so pretty just now +with the pink in her cheeks and the soft tendrils of hair +about her forehead, the eager, luminous eyes. He +reached out and took her hand.</p> + +<p>"Have you been inspecting old Salem, and did you +find any queer things?" Cousin Giles asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there was a great shipload of goods from +India and it seemed almost as if you were walking +through the booths at home, only there were no natives +and no beggars or holy men——"</p> + +<p>"Tut! tut! child; they are not holy men who are +too lazy to move and waiting for other people to fill +their mouths. If they were here we'd make them +work or they'd have to starve. They're talking about +missionaries being sent out to convert them. I heard +a rousing sermon on Sunday, but it didn't loosen my +purse-strings. Your greatest missionary is work, +good hard labor, clearing up and planting. Suppose +those old <i>Mayflower</i> people had sat down and held out +their hands for alms. Do you suppose our Indians +would have filled 'em with their corn, and fish, and +game? Not much. They'd tied 'em to a tree and set +fire to 'em." When Cousin Giles was excited he made +elisions of speech rather unusual for a Boston man. +"They went to work and cut down trees, and built +houses, and raised farm and garden truck, and made +shoes and clothes, and roads and bridges, and built +cities and towns, and shamed those countries thousands<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +of years old. And now we're trying to help them +by bringing over their goods and selling them."</p> + +<p>"And creating extravagance, Elizabeth would say," +returned Chilian, with a sort of humorous smile.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you might as well keep the money going as to +hoard it up in an old stocking, so long as it is honestly +yours. We're getting to be quite a notable country, +Chilian Leverett."</p> + +<p>They turned into Derby Street, and Cousin Giles +paused to survey the garden.</p> + +<p>"You've lots of things to enjoy here," he said. "I +don't know but it's a sensible thing to take the good +of what you have as you go along. And little Miss +here will have enough without your adding to the +store. You men of Salem ought to begin to do some +big things—build a college."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I think our young men would rather go to +Harvard. We don't want to rival you. We shall be +the biggest New England seaport. We'll divide up the +glories."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth was so taken by surprise that she was +rather cross. She liked things planned beforehand. +Now the tablecloth must come off. This one had been +on since Sunday and it had two darns in it. And the +old silver must come out.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe Cousin Giles would ever notice," +Eunice said. "And I do think the china prettier than +that old silver."</p> + +<p>"Well, it has the crown mark on it and the Lev<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>eretts +owned it before they came from England. Giles' +folks had some of it, too, but the Lord only knows +what he's done with his. I dare say servants have +made way with it, or banged it out of shape. Anybody +can have china. Come, do be spry, Eunice."</p> + +<p>Cynthia went upstairs and had her hair brushed and +a clean apron put on, though the other was not soiled.</p> + +<p>"Rachel, what is an heiress?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Why—some one, a woman, who inherits a good +deal of money."</p> + +<p>"Does she have to wait until she is a woman?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no. Yes, in a way, too. She can have the +money spent upon her, but she can't have it herself +until she is twenty-one."</p> + +<p>Cynthia wondered how it would seem to go and +spend money, buy ever so many things. But she really +couldn't think of anything she wanted, unless it was a +house of her very own, and books, and pretty pictures, +not portraits of old-fashioned men and women. And +a pony and a dainty chaise. But then—she was such +a little girl, and she wouldn't want to leave Cousin +Chilian.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth made delicious cream shortcake for supper. +Cousin Giles said everything tasted better up +here, perhaps it was the clear salt water. There were +so many fresh ponds and streams around Boston. But +there were big plans for drainage and for docking +out. Then Elizabeth was such a fine cook.</p> + +<p>The two men sat out on the stoop in the summer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +moonlight and Cynthia thought Cousin Giles really +quarrelled trying to establish the superiority of Boston. +Then they talked about investments and Captain Leverett, +and Giles said, "Cynthia will be one of the richest +women of Salem. Chilian, you'll have to look sharp +that some schemer doesn't marry her for her money."</p> + +<p>"You must come to bed, Cynthia," declared Rachel. +Through the open window they could hear Cousin +Giles' voice plainly.</p> + +<p>The men went the next morning to consider an investment +Chilian had in view. It had been thought +best to divide the sums coming in between Salem and +Boston. Then they walked about and saw the improvements, +the new docks being built to accommodate +the shipping, the great fleet of boats, the busy ship-yard, +the hurrying to and fro everywhere. It was not +merely finery, but spices and articles used in the arts. +Gum copal was brought from Zanzibar. Indigo came +in, though they were trying to raise that at the South.</p> + +<p>And when Giles saw the new streets and fine houses, +and Mr. Derby's, that was to cost eighty thousand +dollars, he did open his eyes in surprise. Though he +said rather grudgingly:</p> + +<p>"It's a shame for one little girl to have all that +money. There should have been three or four children. +Fifty years ago the Leveretts had such big +families they bid fair to overrun the earth, and now +they've dwindled down to next to nothing. Chilian, +why don't you marry?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The same to yourself. Are you clinging to any +old memory?"</p> + +<p>"Well, not just that. I don't seem to have time. +Now you are a fellow of leisure. Get about it, man, +and hunt up a wife."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>A NEW DEPARTURE</h3> + + +<p>Cynthia Leverett was making great improvement +in every respect. She was no longer the thin, +wan little thing that had come from India. She had +outgrown her clothes, which was a good sign, Eunice +said.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth made a stand for good wearing ginghams +and plain cloths for winter.</p> + +<p>"There's that gray cloth of mine that's too nice to +hack around for every day. I could have it dyed, I +suppose, but I've two nice black stuff dresses beside +my silk, and that other one Chilian gave me that must +have cost a sight of money; it's thick enough to almost +stand alone. I can't bear those sleazy stuffs that come +from India. But I've wished more than once that I +had the money it cost, out at interest. And the +cloth——"</p> + +<p>"It isn't a very pretty color," ventured Eunice timidly.</p> + +<p>"What does that matter for a child? It won't show +dirt easily. And it is settled that she is going to +school, I'm thankful to say."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<p>The dress in question was not a clear, pretty gray, +but had an ugly yellow tint.</p> + +<p>"She certainly is rich enough to buy her own +clothes, or have them bought for her. I'd dip that +dress over a good deal darker brown. You know +Chilian didn't like it for you, and he will not for +her."</p> + +<p>Eunice was amazed at her own protest. The child +had always been prettily attired. And more attention +was being paid to children's clothes she noticed in +church on Sunday, and after she had indulged in such +sinful wanderings, she read the chapter in Isaiah where +the prophet denounced the "round tires like the moon, +the bonnets and the head bands, the mantles, and wimples, +and crisping pins, and changeable suits of apparel," +and other vanities, and predicted dire punishments +for them.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Turner had called according to her proposal. +She brought her little daughter Arabella, commonly +called Bella. Cousin Chilian was out in the garden +with Cynthia, and received her with his usual kindly +cordiality, inviting them to walk into the house. The +parlor shutters were tightly closed, and Mrs. Turner +abhorred state parlors. Hers was always open, for +guests were no rarity.</p> + +<p>"Why can't we sit out here a spell? It is so delightful +to have this garden in view. And your clematis is +a perfect show. Then let the children run around and +get acquainted. How are the ladies?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>She seated herself on the bench at the side of the +porch.</p> + +<p>"I will call them," he said. "But—hadn't you better +walk in?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, we can't stay very long. I've been waiting for +the ladies to return my last call, but we were down in +this vicinity, so I stopped. You see, I don't always +stand on ceremony. And we have been so interested in +your little girl. I saw her in Merrit's with Miss +Winn."</p> + +<p>He summoned the ladies, and then he returned to +the guests. The children were both down the +path—Bella talking and gesticulating, and Cynthia +laughing.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Turner was in nowise formal. She talked of +Mr. Turner's business—he was a shipbuilder—of the +rapid strides Salem was making; indeed one would +hardly know it for old Salem of the witch days. And +people's ideas had broadened out so, softened from +their rigidity, "though some of the old folks are thinking +the very trade we are so proud of is going to ruin +our character and morals, and fill us with pride and +vanity. But I say to Mr. Turner the people did +their hard work and bore their deprivations bravely all +through the Revolution, and we can't go back and +make their lot easier by depriving ourselves of comforts, +or even pleasures."</p> + +<p>There might be some casuistry in that, but there +was truth as well.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then he asked if she knew of any nice schools for +girls. Where did hers go?</p> + +<p>"Oh, to Madam Torrey's. That's up Church Street. +Maybe it would be too far in bad weather, though our +girls don't mind it. Alice is thirteen, but she's been +there since she was eight, and Bella has been going +these two years. The boys are at the Bertram School, +and your neighbor Bentley Upham goes there. He's +a nice boy. But Madam Torrey is a fine woman. She +has an assistant, and a woman comes in to teach the +French class. Then—I don't suppose everybody will +approve of this, but there is going to be a dancing-class +out of school hours, yet no one is compelled to +send their children to that. There's fine needlework, +too, and fancy knitting, indeed about all that it is +necessary for a girl to know. And the children are +all from good families; that is quite an important +point."</p> + +<p>"I think I must walk over and see her."</p> + +<p>"Do. I am sure you will be pleased. The walk +will be the only objection. Isn't she delicate?"</p> + +<p>"She wasn't well last winter. She took a cold. She +was not used to our bleak winters. And there was +her father's death. She had counted so much on his +return."</p> + +<p>"It was very sad. She looks well now."</p> + +<p>Then the ladies made their appearance. Elizabeth +apologized for Chilian not asking her into the parlor. +"It looked inhospitable."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It was my fault. The stoop was so tempting. A +shady porch in the afternoon is a luxury. We take our +sewing out there; that is, Alice and I, and sometimes +the guests. How lovely your vines are! And your +garden is a regular show place, quite worth coming +to see if there were no other charm. And, Miss Leverett, +I hear you have been making the most beautiful +white quilt there is in Salem."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. But as nice as any. And it was a sight +of work. I don't know as I'd do it again. I've no +chick or child to leave it to."</p> + +<p>"May I come over some day and see it? Not that +I shall do anything of the kind. With four big boys +to mend for and the two girls, I have my hands +full."</p> + +<p>Then they talked about putting up fruit and making +jellies, and Mrs. Turner said she must go over to the +Uphams. She heard that Polly was getting to be such +a nice, smart girl, and had worked the bottom of her +white frock and a round cape to match. Then she +called Bella.</p> + +<p>"Oh, can't I go over with them?" pleaded Cynthia.</p> + +<p>Cousin Chilian nodded. Elizabeth rose stiffly and +went in. Eunice pulled out her knitting. It was so +lovely here. There were the warmth and perfume of +summer and the rich fragrance of ripening fruits and +grass mown for feed, not snipped with a lawn-mower, +such things had not been heard of even in the rapidly +improving Salem.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There are some countries where people live out of +doors nearly all the time," began Eunice reflectively. +"Well, they do a good deal in India. But I think this +is in Europe. And this is so lovely, so restful. But +I'm afraid you have affronted Elizabeth by not insisting +Mrs. Turner should walk into the parlor. Though +really—we had not returned her last call. I do wish +Elizabeth could find some time to get out. I don't see +why there should be so much work."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't you have some one to help?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it isn't just the cooking and kitchenwork. +And no one could suit her there. She's up in that old +garret toiling, and moiling, and packing away enough +things to furnish an inn. We shall never want them. +And there's your mother's, and some of your grandmother's, +blankets."</p> + +<p>"The New England thrift is rather too thrifty +sometimes," he commented dryly.</p> + +<p>Cynthia staid after Mrs. Turner made her adieus. +Indeed, as it was nearing supper-time, he walked over +for her. She and Betty were in the wide-seated swing +and Ben was swinging them so high that Betty, used +as she was to it, gave now and then little squeals. +Chilian held up his hand and Ben let the "cat die," +which meant the swing stopping of itself.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Leverett, can't Cynthy stay to tea? I'll +run and ask mother."</p> + +<p>"Not to-day. She had better come home now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear!" cried Bentley disappointedly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, I had better go. And I've had such a lovely +time. Cousin Chilian, can't I come over again?"</p> + +<p>How pretty she looked with her shining eyes, her +rosy cheeks, and her entreating lips! What would she +coax out of men as she grew older!</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; any time they want you."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'd like her every day!" cried Ben eagerly. +"And isn't it splendid that she's grown so well and +strong, and can run and play, and have good out-of-doors +times? Though I used to like it in the winter +up in your room, and Mr. Price said he never knew a +boy to improve so in Latin."</p> + +<p>Bentley made a graceful bow to Mr. Leverett.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Cynthia, skipping along in exuberant +joy, "children are nice, aren't they? You can't have +much fun alone by yourself, and the days are so long +when you go in to Boston."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if you would like to try school again?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think I would;" after a pause. "You see," +with a gravity that sat oddly upon her, "I'm not so +afraid as I was, and I have more sense. And I know +things more evenly than I did. I can write now quite +well, and I know most of the tables, though division +does bother me. And I can spell all but the very difficult +words. I don't think any one would laugh at me +now."</p> + +<p>"No, they wouldn't," he answered decisively.</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't like little boys, but I wouldn't mind +them as big as Bentley. And, oh, I wish we had a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +swing. And they have a real sailors' hammock, such +as they have on shipboard. It's delightful under the +trees."</p> + +<p>"I think we can manage that."</p> + +<p>"Well, if your head isn't tousled!" cried Elizabeth. +"It looks like a brush heap. Get it fixed, for supper is +all ready. Why didn't you stay?" the last ironically.</p> + +<p>"Cousin Chilian thought I had better not. They +did want me to."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure they <i>wanted</i> you to?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," she answered in ignorance of the +sarcasm.</p> + +<p>She walked up and down the garden path with +Cousin Chilian and asked about the school, was glad +when she found Bella and her sister Alice went there. +Now and then she gave two or three skips and pulled +on the hand she held so tightly. He had never seen +her in quite such glee, and how charming she was!</p> + +<p>"Chilian, bring that child in out of the dew. Next +thing she'll be in for a winter's cold," said the severe +voice.</p> + +<p>The interview with Madam Torrey was very satisfactory. +Chilian asked Miss Winn to go out and buy +what was needed and get it made. They went over to +Mrs. Turner's one day and took the school in on their +way.</p> + +<p>"When it rains Silas can take you and come for +you. I think the walk will not tire you out."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; I don't get tired out now."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was Miss Winn's place to look after the child, of +course, but Elizabeth felt in some way defrauded. +She wished Cynthia had been poor and dependent upon +them. Then she would stand a chance to be brought +up in a useful manner.</p> + +<p>Chilian took her to school the first morning. Miss +Winn was to come for her. She had been rather shy +at first. But Bella Turner told the girls about her, +how she had been born in Salem, and gone to Calcutta +when only a few months old, come and gone again in +her father's ship, and he was Captain Leverett, and +then returned to America. He was to come afterward, +but he had died. And Mr. Chilian Leverett, who was +something in Harvard College, was her guardian. +And she was to have ever so much money when she +was a young lady.</p> + +<p>Any other child might have been spoiled by the attentions +lavished upon her. The girls thought her +curly hair so pretty, and her hands were so small, with +their dainty, tapering fingers. Then she found one of +the girls, Lois Brinsmaid, lived in Central Avenue, so +there was no further question of troubling any one. +Cousin Chilian had given her a good foundation for +study and she was eager for knowledge of all sorts, +except that of the needle.</p> + +<p>Then autumn began to merge into winter and there +were storms and bleak winds, and some days she +staid at home. She caught light colds, but Chilian and +Miss Winn were very watchful.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> + +<p>She went to the Turners one afternoon and staid +to tea, and the big boys hovered about her like bees. +She was not forward or aggressive, but there was a +sort of charming sweetness about her. When she +raised her lovely eyes they seemed to appeal to every +heart, though they never went very far with Cousin +Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>One day she came home and found the house in a +great state of excitement. Elizabeth had started to go +down into the cellar with both hands full. She had +been a little dizzy for several days, and meant to take +a dose of herb tea, boneset being her great stand-by, +when she could find time. Whether it was the vertigo, +or she slipped, she lay there unconscious, and they sent +for Doctor Prescott.</p> + +<p>Silas and the doctor carried her upstairs, and the +latter brought her out of the faint. But when she +started to stand up, she toppled over and fainted again.</p> + +<p>"There's something quite serious. Let us carry her +up to her room, and you women undress her. Her +legs are sound, so the trouble is higher up."</p> + +<p>Then he found her hip was broken, a bad thing at +any time of life, but at her age doubly so. And he sent +for Doctor Lapham to help him set it. It was very +bad. They were still there when Chilian came +home.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid she's laid up for a year or so;" and the +doctor shook his head ominously.</p> + +<p>"Do your very best for her," besought Chilian.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>He said to Eunice, "Now you must have some one. +You can't carry on the house alone."</p> + +<p>"If it is the same to you, Chilian, I'd rather have a +nurse. There's Mother Taft, who is good and strong, +and used to nursing. She's willing to help about a little, +too."</p> + +<p>"Just as you think best. I want every care taken +of her."</p> + +<p>For a month it was a very serious matter. They +thought the spine was somewhat injured as well. And +Elizabeth knew they could never get on without her.</p> + +<p>"I expect I shall find the house in such a state when +I do get about, it will take me all summer to right it. +You never were as thorough as I could wish, Eunice."</p> + +<p>Miss Winn begged that she might be of service. +She had so little to do, or to think about, that time +hung heavy on her hands, now that Cynthia was in +school. For then school hours were from nine to five. +And the child was getting so handy caring for herself. +She curled her hair and put on her clothes, brought +her shoes down every evening for Silas to black, and +sometimes wiped the tea dishes while Miss Winn +washed them. Somehow there didn't seem so much +work to do. Eunice didn't always have two kinds of +cake for supper, nor a great shelf full of pies for +Silas to take home. There was plenty of everything +and no one complained.</p> + +<p>They found Mother Taft invaluable. She was about +the average height, and had long arms, and strength<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +according. Then she had a most excellent way with +her. When Elizabeth groaned that they never could +get on without her, and she must be up and about +before everything went to "wrack and ruin," Mother +Taft said:</p> + +<p>"The kitchen looks like a new pin. There's no signs +of ruin that I can see. Meals are good, cake fine, +house clean. When you get downstairs you'll think +you haven't been out of the harness more'n a week."</p> + +<p>"A likely story," Elizabeth moaned.</p> + +<p>Cynthia went through March very successfully, but +with the first warm spell in April she caught a cold and +coughed, and Chilian was almost wild about her, his +nerves having been worn somewhat by Elizabeth's +mishap. But after ten days or so she came around all +right and was eager for school again.</p> + +<p>She was sitting in her old place by the window late +one afternoon and he had been reading some poems to +her—a volume lately come from England.</p> + +<p>"Cousin Chilian," she said, "will you tell me what +true relation we are?"</p> + +<p>"Why, what has put that in your head?"</p> + +<p>"I want to know." She said it persuasively.</p> + +<p>"Well, it isn't very near after all. My father and +yours were cousins. My father was the son of the +oldest brother, your father the son of the youngest, +that stretched them quite far apart. When I wasn't +much more than a baby Anthony came to live with us, +and was like an elder brother to me. Father was very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +fond of him. But he would go to sea and he made a +fine sailor and captain. Then he was married from +here, and you were born here."</p> + +<p>"The girls sometimes say, 'your uncle.' I wonder +if you would like to have me call you uncle?"</p> + +<p>Something in him protested. He could not tell what +it was, unless an odd feeling that it made him seem +older. He wished he were ten years younger, and he +could give no reason for that either.</p> + +<p>"I think I like the 'cousin' best;" after some deliberation.</p> + +<p>"And it is so lovely to be dear to some one, very +dear. I like Rachel, she's been almost a mother to me, +and I like Cousin Eunice for her sweet ways. But +I've no one of my very own, and so—I'm very glad +to be dear to you. It is like a ship being anchored to +something safe and strong."</p> + +<p>She came and put her arms about his neck and +kissed him. He drew her down on his knee. She was +her mother's child, and her mother had been dear to +him, his first love, his only love so far.</p> + +<p>Oh, how would the garden get made and the house +cleaned, the blankets and the winter clothing aired and +put away, those in use washed? Eunice and Miss +Winn went up in the garret one day and swept and +dusted, not giving a whole week to it.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Mother Taft, "I'm going to take a +holiday off. I'm tired of puttering round in the sick +room, and she's so much better now that she doesn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +keep one on the jump. And I'm going to wash them +there blankets and you can pack them away, so there'll +be one thing less to worry about."</p> + +<p>"But Silas' wife would come and do it. And a holiday! +Why don't you go off somewhere——"</p> + +<p>"I want to do it."</p> + +<p>And do it she did. Some way the house did get +cleaned. "After a fashion," Elizabeth said. And the +garden was made. Chilian and Eunice trimmed up +roses. Cynthia and Miss Winn planted seeds. There +were always some things that wintered over—sweet +Williams, lilies of various sorts, pinks, laurels, some +spiræas, snowball and syringas, hosts of lilacs that +made a fragrant hedge. Cynthia thought it had never +been so lovely before. She wore a nosegay at her +throat, and in her belt just a few; she had the fine +taste that never overloaded. She and Cousin Chilian +used to walk up and down the fragrant paths after +supper and no one fretted at them about the dew. +Sometimes Rachel or Eunice would bring out a dainty +scarf. And how many things they found to talk about. +She loved to dwell on the times with her father, and +it seemed as if she remembered a great deal more +about her mother than she did at first, but she never +imagined it was Cousin <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Chilan's'">Chilian's</ins> memory that helped +out hers.</p> + +<p>She had enjoyed the school very much. There were +no high up "isms" or "ologies" for girls in those +days. She learned about her own country, for already<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +there were some histories written, and the causes that +led to the war. Some of the girls had grandmothers +who had lived through those exciting years, and made +the relation of incidents much more interesting than +any dry written account that was mostly dates and +names. What heroes they had been! And the old +<i>Mayflower</i> story and John Alden, and others who were +to inspire a poet's pen.</p> + +<p>Then there was the dread story of the witchcraft +that had led Salem astray. Cousin Chilian would +never have it mentioned, and had taken away several +books he did not want her to see. But the girls had +gone to some of the old places, where witches had +been taken from their homes and cast into jail, the +Court House where they had been tried, and Gallows +Hill, that most people shunned even now.</p> + +<p>One rainy evening, after her lessons had been studied, +Cynthia went downstairs. Rachel had been fomenting +her face for the toothache and was lying +down. Cousin Chilian had gone to a town-meeting, +and the house seemed so still that she almost believed +she might see the ghost or witch of the stories she had +heard. No one was in the sitting-room, or the kitchen +proper, but she heard voices in what was called the +summer kitchen, a roughly constructed place with a +stone chimney and a great swinging crane. Here they +did much of the autumn work, for Elizabeth was +quite a stickler for having a common place to save +something nicer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mother Taft always smoked a pipe of tobacco in the +evening. "It soothed her," she said, after her tussle +of fixing her patient for the night, "and made her +sleep better."</p> + +<p>"And it's my opinion if Miss 'Lisbeth could just +have a good smoke at night 'twould do her more good +than the doctor's powders."</p> + +<p>"Why, Cynthy!" Cousin Eunice exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"I was lonesome. Rachel's gone to sleep, Cousin +Eunice—were there such things as witches over a +hundred years ago?"</p> + +<p>Eunice glanced at Mother Taft. Witchcraft was a +tabooed subject, yet it lingered in more than one imaginative +mind, though few would confess a belief +in it.</p> + +<p>"Well, people may talk as they like, but there's +many queer things in the world. Now there's that +falling sickness, as they call it. Jabez Green has two +children that roll on the floor, and froth at the mouth, +and their eyes bulge most out of their heads. They're +lacking, we all know. But when they come out of the +fit they tell queer things that they saw, and I do suppose +it was that way then. They do act as if they were +bewitched."</p> + +<p>We know this misfortune now as epilepsy, but medical +science in the earlier century did not understand +that, nor incipient insanity.</p> + +<p>"It was very strange," said Eunice rather awe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>somely. +"And Mr. Parris was a minister and a good +man, yet it broke out in his family."</p> + +<p>"But he had them slaves, and in their own land +black people do awful things to each other. But it +was strange; again, after his wife was accused, Governor +Phipps ordered there should be no more punished +and all set free, and then the thing stopped."</p> + +<p>"And it wasn't real witchcraft?" said Cynthia.</p> + +<p>"Well, I wouldn't undertake to say. There were +witches in Bible times and they kept themselves mighty +close, for they were not to be allowed to live. And +Saul had a hard time getting anything out of the witch +of Endor, you know, Miss Eunice."</p> + +<p>Eunice nodded. They were trenching on forbidden +ground.</p> + +<p>"My grandmother believed in them and she was a +good God-fearing woman, too. You see what made it +worse for Salem was their sending so many here for +trial from the places round. Grandfather lived way +up above Topsfield, had a farm there and 'twas woods +all around. No one troubled them then, but afterward—well, +they'd cleared the woods and built a road and +new houses were put up around, for some people were +glad enough to get out of Salem. There was a woman +named Martha Goodno, who had been in prison, and +people were shy of her. Grandmother had two +cows, and folks turned them out in the woods then. +One of them went in Martha's garden, but she spied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +her out and drove her off before much damage was +done. The fence had been broken down and she laid +it to the cow, but people said it had been down for +days. Well, something got the matter with the cow. +She gave good rich milk and mother saved it for butter. +But when she churned there came queer streaks +in it that looked like blood. She doctored the cow, +although it seemed well enough. One day a neighbor +was in and the same thing happened. 'Throw some +in the fire,' said the neighbor, 'and if you hear of any +one being burned you'll know who is the witch.' So +grandmother threw two dippers full in the fire and she +said it made an awful smell. The rest she dumped out +of doors, she wouldn't feed it to the pigs. About an +hour afterward another neighbor came in. Grandmother +made a salve that was splendid for burns and +cuts. 'Mis' Denfield,' she says, 'won't you come +over to Martha Goodno's and bring your pot of salve. +She's burned herself dreadfully drawin' the coals out +of the oven, set her dress on fire just at the waist.' +So mother went over and found it was a pretty bad, +sure enough burn, and she was groaning just fit to die. +Mother spread a piece of linen and laid it on and left +her some salve. 'What did I tell you?' says mother's +neighbor, and they nodded their heads. But the queer +thing was that after that the cow was all right and she +never had any more trouble.</p> + +<p>"After she was well she took a spite against another +neighbor, who used to spin flax and sell the thread.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +Then her flax took to cutting up queer, and would +break off, and turn yellow, and trouble her dreadfully. +Mother was there one afternoon when it bothered so. +'Just throw a handful in the fire,' says mother. +'Fire's purifying;' and she did. They sent to mother +again for salve, for Martha had scalded her right hand. +Then the folks talked it over and a letter was written +and tucked under her door, warning her to move, and +the next-door man bought the place. I've heard +grandmother tell this over—she lived to be ninety, and +she was a good Christian woman, and she never added +nor took away one iota. There, I oughtn't have told +all this before the child; she's white as a ghost."</p> + +<p>"You must go to bed this minute," exclaimed Eunice. +"I'll go up with you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>THE VOICE OF A ROSE</h3> + + +<p>There were some marvellous ghost stories in those +days, and haunted houses as well. The society of +Psychical Research would have found many queer +things if it had existed at that time. The sailors spun +strange yarns over the power we call telepathy now. +Many of the families had a retired captain or disabled +first mate, or supercargo, who had seen mysterious +appearances and heard warning voices. And it recalled +to the little girl some of the stories she had heard +in India that she pieced out of vague fragments. +Maybe there were curious influences no one could +explain.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth improved a little. She had been moved +from cot to bed, but now they packed her in a big +chair and pushed her over to the window where she +could see the vegetable garden and the chicken yard. +They had not had very good luck at the hatching this +season. The hens had missed Elizabeth's motherly +care. She had trained them to an amusing habit of +obedience, and the little chickens were her delight. +Was she never to be out among them again?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + +<p>One day Cynthia came up with two roses in a glass, +most exquisite ones at that.</p> + +<p>"Cousin Elizabeth," she began, "do you remember +the little rosebush you put in my garden last summer? +We thought it would die. It came out beautifully in +the spring and these are the first roses that bloomed. +I thought you ought to have them. Are you never +going to get well enough to walk around the garden? +Cousin Eunice has kept it so nice."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth Leverett's heart was touched and she +swallowed over a lump in her throat. She had taken +up the rose from a place where it had been smothered +with those of larger growth and given it to the child +who had begged for "a garden of her very own." She +had not supposed it would live. And that Cynthia +should bring her the firstfruits!</p> + +<p>"I'm obliged to you," she returned huskily. "They +are very beautiful." And she wondered the child had +not given them to Chilian.</p> + +<p>"I wish you liked a few flowers every day," the +little girl said wistfully.</p> + +<p>"Well—I might;" reluctantly.</p> + +<p>"They are so lovely. The world is so beautiful. +It's very hard to be ill in summer, in winter one +wouldn't mind it so much. But I am glad you can +sit up."</p> + +<p>Was it tears that Elizabeth winked away?</p> + +<p>She had many serious thoughts through these +months of helplessness. She had always measured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +everything by the strict line of duty, of usefulness. +There was a virtue in enduring hardness as a good +soldier, and the harder it was the more virtue it held +in it. Her room was plain, almost to bareness. There +had been a faded patchwork top quilt at first, until +Mother Taft insisted upon having something nicer. +But it had to be folded up carefully at sundown, when +the likelihood of calls was over. And she did put one +of the new rugs on the floor.</p> + +<p>"That's beginning to go," Mrs. Taft said. "Some +one will catch their foot in it and have a bad fall."</p> + +<p>"It could be mended, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Yes. There's a new one needed in the kitchen. +I'll sew it up for that. Land sakes! you've got enough +in this house to last ten lifetimes!"</p> + +<p>Friends came in to sit with her and brought their +work. Sometimes she sewed a little, but drawing out +her needle hurt her back after a while. She read her +Bible and Baxter's "Saints' Rest" And she wondered +a little what the other world would be like. She had +never thought of heaven with joy—there was the +judgment first. And now that she could begin to sit +up it did prefigure recovery.</p> + +<p>Most schools had kept open all the year round, but +now the higher ones were giving a month's vacation. +Altogether it had been a happy year to Cynthia. She +had really been adored at school. Her frocks were +admired, she let the girls curl her hair, usually she +wore it tied in a bunch behind—not unlike the queue.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +Then she had some rings that she coaxed Rachel to +let her wear, it was such a pleasure to lend them to +the girls. She was learning what was considered +necessary for a girl in those days; a good deal more +with Cousin Chilian. She kept her love for the Latin +and often read to him. She began to draw and +paint flowers, she joined the dancing-class, which +was a delight to her; but Chilian suggested she +should not mention it to Elizabeth. She pirouetted +up and down the path like a fairy, and he loved to +watch her.</p> + +<p>There had been parties among the girls, but he +would rather not have her go, it was a bad thing for +children to be up so late. She went to take tea +now and then. The Turners were very fond of her +and the Uphams wanted her once a week. She wondered +if she might ever ask any one to tea.</p> + +<p>Then they planned what they would do in this wonderful +vacation. Go off for day's rides, take sails up +and down, there were so many places. She was brimming +over with joy.</p> + +<p>Chilian was called up in the night by Mother +Taft.</p> + +<p>"She's had a stroke. And she seemed so smart +yesterday. She even laughed over some school stories +Cynthia told. That child's brought her flowers every +morning, and she's softened so much to her. I really +think she's been getting religion, as one may say, and +being prepared."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + +<p>Chilian heard the stertorous breathing. The eyes +were half open and rolled up, her face was drawn. +He took the hand. It was cold and heavy.</p> + +<p>"I'll go for the doctor. I think the end has come."</p> + +<p>Dr. Prescott said the same thing, adding with a +slow turn of the head, "She will not last long."</p> + +<p>What should he do with Cynthia? He remembered +how careful her father had been to shield her. She +must not see Elizabeth, she must not confront death in +this awesome fashion.</p> + +<p>When they came to breakfast he said:</p> + +<p>"Cynthia, wouldn't you like to go in to Boston with +me this morning?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it would be splendid!" She clapped her +hands in delight.</p> + +<p>"Well, Rachel must get you ready. We will take +the stage. It goes early now."</p> + +<p>Of course, she was full of excitement. It had been +planned as one of the month's outings, but to take it +as the first! Cousin Chilian was always thinking up +such nice things.</p> + +<p>"Oh," she cried, tying the big Leghorn hat down, +making a great bow under her chin, "I must get my +flowers for Cousin Elizabeth."</p> + +<p>When she came in she would have flown upstairs, +but Rachel stopped her.</p> + +<p>"Miss Elizabeth is asleep. She had a bad spell in +the night and the doctor doesn't want her disturbed. +I'll take them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh!" She looked disappointed. "Tell her good-bye +and that I was sorry not to come in and say it. +And give her the flowers. I hope she will be better +to-night."</p> + +<p>What a great thing it was to go off in the stage! +It was a fine morning with an easterly breeze. To be +sure, the roads were dusty, but travellers were not +so dainty in those days. Cynthia had a dust cloak of +some thin material that shielded her white frock. +There were three men and two women. They sat on +the middle seat, two of the men on front with the +driver, the other back with the ladies. Presently the +driver blew a long toot on his horn and they came to a +little town with a tavern, as they were called then, at +its very entrance.</p> + +<p>Two of the passengers left, one came in. The horses +had a drink and on they went over hill and dale, +through great farms, where there were not more than +two or three houses in sight. The stage stopped for a +man who gave a loud halloo, and he climbed in. Then +the horn gave another loud signal.</p> + +<p>So it went on. Some places were very pretty, great +fields of corn waving in the sunshine, potatoes, stubble +where grain had been cut, stretches of woodland, high, +rather rough hills, then towns again. The sun went +under a cloud, which made it pleasanter. The passengers +changed now and then. One woman told +her next neighbor "she was goin' in to Boston to shop, +because things were cheaper now. She always went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +after the rush was over. There were cambrics, she +heard, for one and ninepence, and cotton cloth home-made +was so much cheaper than the imported, but you +had to bleach it. And little traps that you couldn't +get at a country store."</p> + +<p>Cynthia was tired and sleepy when they reached +their journey's end, which was Marlborough Street, +where Cousin Giles had an office.</p> + +<p>"Well! well! well!" he ejaculated in surprise. +"Why, Miss Cynthia Leverett, I'm glad to see you. +Have you come to town to shop?"</p> + +<p>Chilian made a little sign. "She has a whole +month's vacation and we are going to fill it up with +journeys, taking Boston first."</p> + +<p>"That's right. We shall have lots to show her. +You'll hardly want to go back to Salem. It was a +long warm ride, wasn't it? Chilian, take off her hat. +Don't you want a drink?"</p> + +<p>"I am thirsty," she admitted.</p> + +<p>He fixed a glass of lemonade, and lemons were dear +at that period—scarce, too. While she was sipping it, +being refreshed in every pulse, the two men went +down to the end of the room for a talk.</p> + +<p>"She's dreadfully disfigured," Chilian said in a low +tone. "And Elizabeth wasn't a bad-looking woman. +The doctor thinks she can't live but a few days, her +body is growing cold rapidly. I'd like to have the child +out of it all. Death is a great shock and very mysterious +to a child."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll be glad to keep her, if she will stay content. +I wish you could have brought that woman with +you. Poor Elizabeth! How Eunice will miss her. +Chilian, you've been like a son to those women. +Women ought to marry and have children of their +own, but children are not always kind. Yes. After +you're rested we'll go home. I'm going to change my +office, get nearer to the business centre, only this is so +pleasant with a nice outlook."</p> + +<p>"You ought to retire."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what would I do? Like that Roman fellow, +buy a farm? I don't know a bit about farming and +don't want to. There's so much going on here."</p> + +<p>Presently they returned to the little girl, who was +quite refreshed, and then they went out, as it would be +dinner-time presently. Cousin Giles lived in Cambridge +Street in quite an imposing row, though it had no such +spacious grounds as at Salem.</p> + +<p>An immaculate black man opened the door and took +the men's hats. "Ask Mrs. Stevens to come down," +Cousin Giles said.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Stevens seemed a great lady. Eudora Castleton's +mother was like this, always looking as if she was +dressed for a party. She had a pretty silk gown, with +some ruffles about the bottom, short enough to show +her clocked silk stockings. The waist was short also, +the square neck filled in with lace, and great balloon +sleeves—so large at the top they came almost up to her +ears.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This is the little girl who came from India, that I +told you about, and who is going to be a great lady +some day. When she gets older we'll have to have her +down here to Boston, and give balls and parties for her, +and pick out a fine lover for her; hey, Cynthia?"</p> + +<p>Cynthia turned scarlet.</p> + +<p>"I think you must be warm and tired with the long +stage ride; wouldn't you like to come upstairs with +me?"</p> + +<p>Cynthia rose as Cousin Chilian looked approval, and +followed up the stairway, where her feet sank in the +carpet. There were several rooms, with the air blowing +through delightfully, and there was fragrance everywhere +from vases of flowers.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Stevens took off her hat and inspected her. +She was going to be a big heiress and a pretty girl in +the bargain, piquant with a slightly foreign look, +though perhaps it was more in her manner.</p> + +<p>"Susan," she called to a girl sewing in the next +room, "come and wash this little visitor's hands and +face. She has come all the way from Salem this +morning. I wish we had a fresh frock for you, but we +have no little girls."</p> + +<p>The voice was so soft and charming that Cynthia +looked up with a kind of admiring smile.</p> + +<p>Susan took off her frock, bathed her face and hands +with some perfumed water, brushed out her hair, and +said, "What lovely hair you have, and so much of it. +A queen might envy you!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>The idea of a queen wanting anything she had! Oh, +how nice and refreshed she felt.</p> + +<p>Susan shook out the frock and put it on again, +pulled out the sleeves, smoothed the wrinkled skirt, +and took her in the next room.</p> + +<p>"It rests one so much. Are you hungry? We shall +have dinner in half an hour."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," Cynthia said. "And—and I am very +much obliged to Susan."</p> + +<p>"Come and sit here. Tell me how the aunties are—the +one with the broken limb."</p> + +<p>"I think she isn't so well. Yesterday she was so +much improved. The doctor was there this morning."</p> + +<p>"Poor lady! She has been ill a long while. And +you are quite at home in Salem, I suppose? You had +a long journey. Did you like India?"</p> + +<p>"Father was there;" with a sweet, attractive simplicity. +"And some of it was very beautiful. Oh, I +almost froze the first winter here, but last winter I +didn't mind. And the sleigh-riding was splendid."</p> + +<p>"Are there many little girls to be friends with?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I go to a nice school. And we have so many +funny plays and dancing once a week. I didn't tease +about it, though I wanted to go, and Cousin Chilian +said I might. It's queer, but in India they come and +dance for you, and you pay them. But it is lovely to +do it for yourself;" and she made some graceful motions +with her hands, while her beautiful eyes were +alight with emotion, as if she heard the music.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Did you ever want to go back?"</p> + +<p>"At first. But when I heard that father had gone +away, he had meant to come to Salem, but——" she +made a pause, "mother was there in India. Only the +bodies, you know, the other part that thinks and feels +is in heaven. He wanted mother so much. He used +to talk about her. And now I am going to live in +Salem with Cousin Chilian all my life long."</p> + +<p>How simply sweet she was, with no self-consciousness.</p> + +<p>Then they were summoned to dinner. The elegant +black servant waited on them, and that suggested India +again. They went out on a back porch and sat in +the shade. Cousin Giles found an opportunity to explain +the matter to Mrs. Stevens, and after that the +men went out for a while.</p> + +<p>Quite in the afternoon there were calls from stylishly-dressed +ladies, and cake and cool drinks were +brought in. Then Cousin Chilian told her that he +would like her to stay all night and he would come in +to-morrow.</p> + +<p>She didn't want to a bit. "Why, I would be very +quiet and not disturb Cousin Elizabeth," she said, with +beseeching eyes.</p> + +<p>"Will you not do it to please me?"</p> + +<p>She choked down a great lump. "Oh, yes," she +answered in a low tone, without looking up. But it +seemed very queer to her to be left this way.</p> + +<p>There was company in the evening—quite a party<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +playing cards. She had a pretty story book to read +until Susan came to put her to bed. And what a delightful +little bed it was, like her little pallet at home, +so much nicer than the big bed at Salem.</p> + +<p>She would not show that she was homesick, for so +many nice things were being done for her. A note +came from Chilian—Cousin Elizabeth was very ill, +and he hoped she would be content. Some clothes +were sent for her, some of her very best ones, and +she was glad to have them.</p> + +<p>There were so many things to see in Boston, really +much more than at Salem. They were putting up +some fine public buildings. And there was Bunker +Hill and Copp's Hill, and, down near the bay, Fort Hill. +There seemed little rivers running all about and submerged +lands.</p> + +<p>There were many other entertainments and her days +were full. Mrs. Stevens sent out some cards and +seven or eight young girls came in and chatted quite +like the grown-up ladies, asking her about Salem, and +being not a little surprised that she had lived in India. +They had a pretty sort of half tea, cakes and delicacies +after the thin bread and butter, and a most delightful +cool drink that seemed to have all flavors in it. One of +the girls played on the spinet afterward. So she had +her first party at Cousin Giles', instead of Salem.</p> + +<p>Notes came from Cousin Chilian, and at last the +welcome news that he was coming down for her.</p> + +<p>She had come to like Cousin Giles very much. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +was so different from Chilian—breezy and rather teasing—and, +oh, what would Cousin Elizabeth have said +to his fashion of getting things about, putting papers +or books on chairs, mislaying his glasses and his +gloves, and she would think the fine furniture, and the +servants, and the little feasts awfully extravagant.</p> + +<p>Poor Elizabeth! She had never come back to consciousness. +She had shrunk intensely from the last +moment when she would have to face death and the +judgment, though she had been striving all her life to +prepare for it. But God had mercifully spared her +that, the two worlds had touched and merged with +each other and left her to God.</p> + +<p>There had been a quiet funeral, though it was well +attended, but the coffin was closed and a pall thrown +over it, for the poor face had never recovered its natural +look.</p> + +<p>All this was softened to Cynthia, as she sat with +Cousin Chilian's arm about her. She had the sweet +remembrance of that last day, and the smile that somehow +had made the wrinkled face pretty. It had been +thoughtful and tender in Cousin Chilian to spare her +the rest.</p> + +<p>They went over to Cambridge and he took her +through the place that was to be so much grander before +she was done with life. And here was the house +where he had lived through the week, going home to +spend Sundays, for his father was alive then. And he +told her stories about old Boston, some quaintly funny,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +but she was rather proud that Salem had been the first +capital of the State.</p> + +<p>"I've had such a nice time," she said with her adieu. +"Every day has been full of pleasure. I thank you +both very much."</p> + +<p>She was to come again, and again, they rejoined +cordially.</p> + +<p>"What a nice child!" Cousin Giles said. "She +doesn't seem to consider what an heiress she is. And +she's enough like Chilian to be his own child. He always +had that dainty way with him, like a woman, +and everything must be fine and nice, yet he never +was ostentatious. She'll make a charming young +woman. I wish I could persuade Chilian to come to +Boston."</p> + +<p>Chilian had driven in with the carriage. There had +been a shower in the night and the travelling was delightful. +He had missed his little girl so much, yet he +knew it had been better to save her the poignancy of +the sad occurrence. So her father had thought in his +trusting appeal.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>CHANGES IN THE OLD HOUSE</h3> + + +<p>There was not as much change in household affairs as +Cynthia supposed there would be. Elizabeth had been +laid by so long that her place at the table had been +filled by Eunice. Indeed, the former had an unfortunate +habit of running out in the kitchen to see to +something, then returning, pouring a cup of tea, passing +some article of food, then disappearing again. It +had grown on her, the belief that she must be everywhere +or something would go wrong. It did annoy +Chilian. And no one hustled up the dishes when you +had eaten the last crumb of cake. He liked to linger +over the table.</p> + +<p>Eunice was very glad to see her. Rachel took her +wrap and her parcel upstairs, for supper had been +waiting. Eunice poured the tea, Rachel passed the +eatables, and they were both eager to hear how it had +fared with the little girl.</p> + +<p>"It's been just splendid! Mrs. Stevens is—well, +she is grand, and, oh, you ought to see the beautiful +gowns she wears; but she doesn't hold you way off. +You can come up close and lean on her shoulder or +her lap. They were both so good. And, look! Cousin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +Giles would buy me these two rings;" and she held up +her hand laughingly. "And an elegant necklace. I +told him there were so many things here that were my +mother's, but he wouldn't mind. And slippers! +There's white, and a kind of gray, and a bronze, and +a red pair. The little girls wear them when they +come from school and go out to companies. Oh, +Cousin Chilian, doesn't any one play on the spinet? +I'd like to learn."</p> + +<p>"It's very old. It was mother's. I think we must +have a new one. And you can learn."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I shall be so glad."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Taft was out in the kitchen. "Now you all +go your ways," she began. "'Taint nothing to clear +off the supper table."</p> + +<p>They sat out on the front porch. But through the +talk Cynthia kept thinking of poor Cousin Elizabeth +and feeling sorry she had not enjoyed more of the +pleasures of life. Was there so much real virtue in +making life hard and cold? But there were some +girls in school who were very much afraid of dancing +and reading story-books.</p> + +<p>Truth to tell, as Chilian listened, he came to experience +a queer feeling—he would have scouted the idea +of jealousy about Cousin Giles, but that he should +have devoted himself so much to her and taken her +about, wanted to buy trinkets for her and all that! +There was still a week of vacation left. They would +go somewhere to-morrow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + +<p>He had asked Mrs. Taft to stay with them.</p> + +<p>"Well, I can't exactly promise. You see, I like to +'wrastle' with things and fight off the worst. +Though I hadn't much hope of 'Lisbeth when the +doctor said her spine was hurt. That's a kind of queer +hidden thing that even doctors can't see into. And +the poor creature suffered a good deal. My, but she +was spunky and was bound not to die, and I fought +for her all I could. But the last few weeks there was +a change. She liked Cynthy to come in with the posies +and say something bright. And now it's all done and +over, and she was a good upright woman in the old-fashioned +way. So I'll stay a spell till Miss Eunice +gets used to the change, and when I see another good +fight somewhere, you mustn't have hard feelings if +I go."</p> + +<p>They went out the next morning and found a boat +going up to Plum Island. It was like going to sea +to go around Rockport Point. Captain Green declared +"he wan't much on passengers, but he had a +nice cabin and an awning on the for'ard deck, and +there was a woman and some children whose husband +living up there had bespoke passage."</p> + +<p>It was a fine day with the right sort of wind. Oh, +how splendid it was as they went out oceanward. She +had been on the water such a very little since her long +voyage.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Halcom had three children and a baby. She +was a plain, commonplace body, who had been living<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +up to North Salem, but her folks were Newburyport +people and she should be glad to get in sight and +sound of them once again. Chilian had brought a +book along, Ben Johnson's Plays, and now and then +he met with such a charming line or two he must read +it to her. There were some new poets coming to the +fore as well, but he knew most of the older ones. Oh, +he must get back his youth for her sake. Cousin Giles +was ever so much older.</p> + +<p>She was interested in the ship as well and talked +to Captain Green. He had so many funny nautical +terms, provincialisms, that she had to inquire what +some of the words meant. For most of the early people +of New England had not dropped into the careless +modes of speech that were to come later on and be +adopted as a sort of patois. They read their Bibles a +good deal and the older divines, and if their speech +was a little stilted it had a certain correctness. Then +Chilian Leverett was rather fastidious in this respect.</p> + +<p>The wind filled the sails and they skimmed along +merrily. Now the sea was green and so clear you +could see the fish disporting themselves. Then the +sun tinted it with gold and threw up diamond, amethyst, +and emeralds, taunting one with treasures.</p> + +<p>There are new names along the coast, though a few +of the old ones remain. They passed Gloucester, +Thatcher's Island, rounded Rockport, where in the +inside harbor they had to unload part of their cargo. +Then on to Plum Island, where the rest were set<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +ashore and the woman and her children. Some few +things were taken on board, but they were to stop at +Gloucester, going down for the return cargo.</p> + +<p>They walked about a little and bought some ripe, +luscious dewberries and fruit.</p> + +<p>"How queer it would be to live on an island and +have to take your boat when you went anywhere," and +Cynthia laughed gayly.</p> + +<p>"People do, farther up. There are a great many +islands on the coast of Maine, and fishermen are living +on them."</p> + +<p>"And in Boston Harbor Cousin Giles took us out. +It's funny that they don't float off. Do they go 'way +down to the bottom of the sea?"</p> + +<p>"I think they must. Sometimes one does disappear."</p> + +<p>"Suppose you were living on it. And you saw the +water coming up all around you and you couldn't get +away——"</p> + +<p>Her eyes filled with a kind of terror.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you would have some boats."</p> + +<p>"But if it happened in the night?"</p> + +<p>"We won't go and live on an island," he said with +a smile.</p> + +<p>It was rougher going back, but not bad enough to +cause any alarm. The wind had died down, but the +swells were coming in. They stopped at Gloucester +and took on some boxes and great planks, and several +pieces of furniture.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There's enough old truck in Salem now," declared +Captain Green ungraciously. "'F I had my way I'd +turn it out on the Common and put a match to it. Now +there's the Hibbins—came over in 1680 and brought +their housen goods. There wan't any way of makin' +'em then but just outen rough logs. An' now the old +granma'am's died and 'twas her mother's, I b'lieve, +and Mis' Hibbins she's just gone crazy over it. And +they're buildin' a fine new house. Strange how +Salem's buildin' up! Those East Ingy traders do +make lots of money. But before I'd have that old +truck in my nice new house!" And the captain gave +a snort of disdain.</p> + +<p>He did not dream that before another hundred years +had passed there would be comparative fortunes made +in the old truck.</p> + +<p>"We'll be a little late gettin' in, but there'll be a +moon. Lucky wind ain't dead agin us."</p> + +<p>How good the supper tasted, for Cynthia was very +hungry. And then they went on and on, hugging the +shore, the captain said, until it was a kind of shadowy +waving blur, but on the other side most beautiful. It +made her think of coming from India, but she was +glad to see the vague outline of the shore.</p> + +<p>The captain was much surprised that she had been +such a traveller. He had been to New York and all +around Long Island, and up as far as Nova Scotia. +The Bay of Fundy was wonderful, with its strange +dangerous tides.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We will go there another summer," Chilian said, +holding her hand, and she returned the soft pressure.</p> + +<p>"I was 'most afraid something had happened." Eunice +had gone down the street to meet them. "But +it's clear as a bell and no wind to speak of, and the +captains of the coasting vessels know every inch of +the way."</p> + +<p>"Only just lovely things happened. It's been splendid. +But I'm hungry again. Can't I have a second +supper?"</p> + +<p>How different she looked from the little girl who +had come to him for care and friendship. And he had +been rather unwilling to accept her. She was growing +tall, and—yes, really pretty.</p> + +<p>They had one more excursion to Winter Island. +Why, it seemed as if they were building ships enough +for the whole world. And there were the fisheries, +and the curious musical singing, not really words, but +sort of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'detatched'">detached</ins> sounds that floated off in a weird +kind of way.</p> + +<p>After that school again. She was glad to see the +girls, and Madam Torrey gave her a warm welcome, +saying, "Why, Miss Cynthia, how tall you have +grown!"</p> + +<p>"I'm very glad," she said smilingly. "All the +Leveretts are tall, but I don't ever want to be very +large."</p> + +<p>"And she had really been to Boston! Was it +so much handsomer than Salem? They had a real<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +theatre, and parties, and balls. Sadie Adams' big +sister was going to spend the whole winter there."</p> + +<p>Chilian Leverett decided to alter his house a little. +The two rooms at the back had always seemed +crowded up, though Elizabeth preferred a separate +one so long as they connected. But he had the memory +of the poor drawn face, as he had seen it the morning +of her seizure. Wouldn't Eunice recall it as well?</p> + +<p>"I think I will make some alterations," he announced +to her. "I'll push that upstairs room out +over the summer kitchen and make it a good deal +larger. While they are doing it, Eunice, you had better +go over the other side and let Mrs. Taft take your +room."</p> + +<p>She assented, though she thought the house and the +rooms were large enough for the few people in it. +Cynthia was interested in her studies, and the girls, +and the new books coming in. For now Sir Walter +Scott was having a great hearing, and there were some +new poets.</p> + +<p>It was not expected that people would be at all gay +when there had been a death in the family, so Cynthia +felt compelled to decline her few invitations. The new +room was finished and made much brighter with the +two added windows. The walls were painted a soft +gray, with a warm tint. There were yards and yards +of new rag carpet up in the garret, sewed in bagging +to keep out moths. Of course, it might as well be +used. The old bedstead was taken out and though the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +one substituted was quite as old, it was very much +prettier, with its carved posts and the tester frame +from which depended white curtains. Some of the +other furniture was changed and it made a very pretty +room, so Eunice came back to it very much pleased, +though not quite sure so much comeliness was best for +the soul.</p> + +<p>At Christmas Chilian took the little girl down to +Boston on a special invitation. There were two visitors +a little older than herself, one whose father was a +representative from the State, the other from New +York.</p> + +<p>Washington was not much thought of in those days. +Other cities had yielded their claims unwillingly, and +there had been much talk of its being set in a morass. +Mrs. President Adams had described her infelicities +very graphically. The rooms were not finished, and +she took one of the parlors for an adjunct to the laundry +to dry the wash in. New York considered itself +the great head for fashion and gayety, Boston for education +and refinement, and she too, had quite an extensive +port trade.</p> + +<p>But Giles Leverett thought the little girl from Salem +was quite as pretty and well bred as Boston girls, and +really she never seemed at loss now, and was seldom +overtaken with a fit of shyness. They had a gay, +happy time, with a regular dancing party, which filled +Cynthia with the utmost delight.</p> + +<p>And though the winter seemed cold and bleak spring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +came again, as it always does. Mrs. Taft had gone +away to another bad case. Eunice and Miss Winn +kept the house. There had been quite an entertaining +episode with Miss Winn. A very prosperous man, +who lived up on the North side, and had a fine house +and five children, asked her to be his wife, thinking +she would make such an excellent mother for girls. +It was supposed at that time that no woman could +refuse a good offer of marriage.</p> + +<p>"Consider it well," said Mr. Leverett. "I don't +know how we could give you up, and, of course, you +could not take Cynthia. Her father made a generous +provision for you, and I think he chose wisely for his +child. But——"</p> + +<p>"I don't know that I want to begin over again," +and she gave a peculiar smile. "Five seems quite an +undertaking when you have had only one. And you +have taken so much the charge of her."</p> + +<p>"But you see, now she will need a woman's guidance +more than ever. She has outgrown childhood. +I see the change in her every day. Eunice could not +supervise her clothes and her pleasures, times have +changed so much. I want her to be very happy and +have a life like other girls——"</p> + +<p>She thought she could give up the prospect good as +it was, won by that persuasive voice. And she had +come to really love Miss Eunice, who was blossoming +in a new phase now that there was nothing to restrain +her natural sweetness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I promised her father to do the best I could for +her. I love her very much. I enjoy the home here. +I do not think I could be any happier. And I am so +used to owning myself that I do not feel disposed to +give up my liberty. If I had no prospect, I might +consider it. And Cynthia will need some one as she +grows older to see that she makes the right sort of +acquaintances and guide her a little."</p> + +<p>"Then since all is agreeable we can count on your +staying. You cannot imagine my own thankfulness;" +and he pressed her hand cordially.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it funny!" cried Cynthia. "Why, Margaret +Plummer goes to Madam Torrey's, but she is very—well, +I don't know just how to describe it, only she said +once that they would all make the house too hot to +hold a step-mother. And, oh, dear Rachel, I couldn't +bear to have anybody ugly to you. And then you +know we couldn't give you up. Cousin Chilian said so, +and Miss Eunice cried."</p> + +<p>Miss Winn winked some tears out of her eyes, +though she tried to smile. It was very comforting to +a woman without kith or kin to feel so welcome in a +household.</p> + +<p>Cynthia was sitting on the step of the porch one +May night when the moon was making shifting shadows +through the trees and silvering the paths. Chilian +was studying the face, and wondering a little what was +flitting through the brain that now and then gave it +such intentness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What are you thinking about?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Cousin Chilian!" She flushed a lovely, rosy +glow. "Building an air castle."</p> + +<p>"Is it very airy? So far that it would be a journey +for another person to reach it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, part of it is near by. The other is what could +be, maybe;" wistfully.</p> + +<p>"Can't I hear about it?"</p> + +<p>"Cousin Chilian, why are the parlors always shut +up, and why don't you have people coming and going, +and saying bright things, and talking about the improvements +and—and Napoleon and the wars in Europe, +and the new streets and houses, and, oh, ever so +many things?"</p> + +<p>He looked at the tightly closed shutters. In his +father's time there were visitors, discussions, playing at +whist and loo, and little suppers. She wouldn't care +for that, of course. Yet he remembered that she had +been interested in the talks at Boston.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes; the rooms could be opened. Only we +have grown so at home in the sitting-room, and you +and I in the study."</p> + +<p>"At the Dearborns' they keep the house all open and +lighted up, as they do in Boston. And they ask in +young people and have plays, and charades, and funny +conundrums——"</p> + +<p>Oh, she was young and should have this kind of +life. How should he set about it? He must ask Miss +Winn. But he ventured rather timidly, for a man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Would you like—well, some girls in to tea? They +ask you so often. And there is no reason why we +should all be hermits."</p> + +<p>She sprang up and clasped her arms about his +neck.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I just should. At first when Cousin Elizabeth +went away, and the lessons were difficult, and it was +winter, but now everything seems so joyous——"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes; we must talk to Miss Winn about it, +Cynthia," and his voice dropped to a tender inflection. +"I want you to feel this is your home and you must +have all the joy and pleasures of youth. You need +never be afraid. I've been a rather dull old fellow——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're not old. You're not as old as Cousin +Giles, and ever so much handsomer. The girls at +school think," she flushed and paused, "that you were +so good to get me the pony and the pretty wagon." +She was going to say something much more flattering, +but delicacy stopped her.</p> + +<p>"My dear," he said gravely, "I was glad to make +you the gift, but I want you to know that there is a +considerable sum of money of your own, and your +father wished you to enjoy it. Whatever you want and +is proper for you to have, I shall be glad to get, and to +do. For I have no little girl but you."</p> + +<p>"Would it be wicked and selfish if I said I was +glad?"</p> + +<p>The arms tightened a little. How soft they were!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +And her hair brushed his cheek. It always seemed +to have a delicate subtle perfume.</p> + +<p>"No, dear. You and I are curiously alone in +the world. I haven't a first cousin, neither have +you."</p> + +<p>"And a whole houseful of folks is so nice," she +said wistfully.</p> + +<p>He had been very well content with his books and +his college friends. But women were different, at +least—those who shut out everybody narrowed their +lives fearfully.</p> + +<p>"We will try and have some."</p> + +<p>"And you must like it. If you do not, the greatest +pleasure will be taken out of it for me."</p> + +<p>"I shall like it;" encouragingly.</p> + +<p>"How good you are to me. Father said I must love +you and obey you, for you would know what would be +best for me."</p> + +<p>Then they sat in silence, the contentment of affection.</p> + +<p>He spoke to Miss Winn the next day. Afterward +they went into the parlor and opened the shutters. It +was stately, grand, and gloomy.</p> + +<p>Before Anthony Leverett had thought of sending +his little girl to his care he had forwarded to Chilian +a gift "for old remembrance' sake," he said, of a very +handsome Oriental rug. Floors of the "best rooms" +had been polished until you could see your shadow in +them. Chilian did not like the noise or the continual<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +trouble. So he laid down the rug and bought one for +the other room. But the heavy curtains, with their +silken linings, staid up year after year. He noticed +those at Giles' house were much lighter and in soft +colors. And his furniture was not so massive.</p> + +<p>"I wish we could change things a little. That old +sofa might go up in the new room. It was grand +enough in my father's time, with its borders of brass-headed +tacks, and its flat, hard seat. Two of these +chairs might come up in my room."</p> + +<p>"I wish we could find a place for the lovely sort of +cabinet that Cynthia's father sent over. I keep it +covered from dust and scratches. She will be glad to +have it when she has a house of her own."</p> + +<p>"One of the rooms ought to be hers—well, both," +he added reflectively.</p> + +<p>"The rugs are elegant. Yes, lighter curtains would +change it a good deal. How very handsome the mantels +are with all their carving."</p> + +<p>They would have adorned a modern house. They +went nearly up to the ceiling with small shelves and +nooks, on which were vases and ornaments such as +bring fortunes now.</p> + +<p>"And—about the party?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that will be only a girls' tea—her schoolmates +where she has been. Next year will be time enough +for the party;" with a little laugh.</p> + +<p>So the two spacious rooms were quite remodelled +and modernized, and the gloomy appearance was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +thing of the past. Why shouldn't he spend his money +on her? There was no one else.</p> + +<p>He had not lost sight of Anthony Drayton. The +father had been exigent. Anthony, being the eldest, +must take the farm when he was done with it. The +lad had worked his time out. Cousin Chilian had +offered him enough to take him to a preparatory +school where he would be fitted for college. He had +come in to Boston and Chilian had been attracted to +the manly young fellow.</p> + +<p>Cynthia was more than delighted with the privilege +of the tea party.</p> + +<p>"Some of the girls have brothers, but I don't know +them very well. I like Bentley, but he is away at +school. And I'd rather have just girls."</p> + +<p>Her admiration of the parlor knew no bounds, and +it gratified him.</p> + +<p>She had been taking lessons on the spinet, but the +painting was a great rival. And this was old, thin, +and creaky.</p> + +<p>"I have found a much better one in Boston, and the +dealer wants this because it was made in London in +1680. How strenuous some people are over old things. +It has no special interest that I know of, and is comparatively +useless."</p> + +<p>The new ones were really the beginning of pianofortes +and this one was very sweet in tone.</p> + +<p>Chilian had been very greatly interested in the +changes. He began to cultivate his neighbors a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +more. Indeed improvements were taking place in the +town. New streets were laid out, old ones straightened, +fine new houses built. There seemed a sudden +outburst of commercial grandeur. Furnishings of the +richest sort were eagerly caught up by the shoppers, +who did not think it necessary to go to Boston and +buy goods that had come in port here. Many of the +old wooden houses were replaced with brick, and the +beautiful doorways, windows, roofs, and porches still +attract craftsmen and architects from different sections +of the country, while illustrators find rich material +in old Colonial doorways.</p> + +<p>Miss Winn consulted Mrs. Upham as to what was +proper for a girls' tea.</p> + +<p>"Miss Cynthia is old enough now to begin with +friends in a simple manner. The family have lived so +quietly that I have not gained much experience in +such matters, and Miss Eunice doesn't feel equal to +managing it. Of course, Miss Cynthia is quite an +heiress and will go in with the best people."</p> + +<p>"As the Leveretts always have. There's been +many a cap set for Chilian Leverett and it's been a +wonder to every one that he hasn't married. But +there's time enough yet."</p> + +<p>She came over and admired the parlors without +stint.</p> + +<p>"You see," she said confidentially, "Miss Elizabeth +was no hand for company. Some of the older +people did the same, shut up the best rooms lest they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +should get faded, or something scratched, or worn. +And I suppose he kept giving in; then there was his +going in to college, and that's a sort of man's life. +I'm glad he has had something to stir him up. He has +been to several town-meetings. They are talking up +improvements. It's a fine thing to have so many vessels +flying Salem flags in different ports; nigh on to +two hundred registered, husband said. But I told +him there ought to be some home interest as well. We +must not let Boston get so far ahead of us, nor forget +the young people are to be the next generation."</p> + +<p>"And young people want some pleasure. I do not +see how they stood so much of the gloomy side twenty +years ago. I was that surprised when I first came +here."</p> + +<p>"Well, there had been a good many things, and all +that witchcraft business. Puritan ways grew sterner +and sterner. I can't say that people were really the +better for it, in my way of thinking, and the Saviour +talked a good deal about loving and helping people. +He didn't stop to make them subscribe to all sorts of +hard things before he worked a miracle. But we were +going to talk about the tea."</p> + +<p>"Yes; about what time now? I want Cynthia to +have it just right and proper;" laughing.</p> + +<p>"They come—we'll say about four. They will want +to run around and see things, and I'd have supper +about five and they'll sit over it, and talk, and laugh. +Suppose I send my 'Mimy over to pass things and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +wait. You would not want Miss Eunice to do it, and +you will have other things on your hands."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you. You are very kind about it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I've had a girl to grow up and be married, +and Polly's to leave school this summer, and next +winter she will be setting up for a young lady. Little +cookies and spicenuts are nice and two kinds of cake. +You never give them real tea, you know, though it's +called a tea party. And some cold chicken, or sliced +ham. I'd spread the plates of bread, it's so much less +trouble. They'll be sure to enjoy everything. A lot +of girls always do have a good time."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>A TASTE OF PLEASURE</h3> + + +<p>Cynthia was full of joy, running down to the gate to +meet and greet guests. They came in groups of +twos and threes, having called for each other. There +were fifteen in all—the girls she knew best, who were +nearest her own age, and at most of the houses she +had been made a welcome guest. Indeed, more than +one mother was glad to have her daughter good +friends with Miss Cynthia Leverett, who was to be a +rich young woman, and whose trustee in Boston lived +in fine style.</p> + +<p>Yet it was not exactly that money was so much +thought of either, though it was always esteemed an +excellent thing. Somehow it was rather relegated +to the men. A father had an idea that his daughters +would marry well, so business opportunities, and often +the homestead, went to the sons. Here was an undivided +fortune. And now it was hardly likely Chilian +Leverett would marry, so she might come in for that.</p> + +<p>The house had always been considered rather +gloomy, as even on state occasions not much light was +allowed in the parlors. Some of the girls had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +gently advised to notice if there had been changes +made.</p> + +<p>Cynthia led them upstairs to take off their things. +They were rather particular about complexions in +those days. Some of the summer hats were really +ornate sunbonnets, others were the great poke shape +with a big bow on top and wide strings that were allowed +to float on a hot day, so as not to get crushed +by the warmth under the chin. They had long muslin +sleeves to pull over their arms, indeed some of them +were finished with mittens, so that the hands might +not get tanned.</p> + +<p>The girls wore rather scant straight skirts, tucked +up to the waist, or with needlework at the bottom, or +two or three tiny ruffles. The stockings were not always +white, oftener they matched the color of the +slippers that were laced across the instep. The necks +were cut square, often finished with a lace berthe. +Some old families have handed these down and kept +them laid away in rose leaves and lavender, and they +are so sweet that when they are shaken out they perfume +the room.</p> + +<p>Cynthia wore a white gauzy frock made over blue +silk that was soft as a pansy leaf. It had blue satin +stripes and she was very glad she had the pretty blue +slippers to match. Then almost every girl had a coral +necklace, or was allowed to wear grandmother's gold +beads. Some had their hair tied up high on their +heads with a great bow, and maybe the family silver<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +or gold comb put in artistically. Chilian liked the +little girl's to hang loose, and now it was down to her +waist.</p> + +<p>It was said the Holland wives of centuries ago took +their visitors through their wardrobes and displayed +their silk and velvet gowns. And when England +passed some sumptuary laws that no one below titled +rank should wear silk, the good wives of traders lined +theirs with silk and hung them up in grand array to +gratify their visitors or themselves.</p> + +<p>"You have so many lovely things," said a girl enviously. +"I haven't but one silk frock, and that was +Mary's until she outgrew it. And mother's so choice +of it; she thinks it ought to last and go to Ruth."</p> + +<p>"Why, you see, so many things came from India," +apologized Cynthia, almost ashamed of having so +much. "And there's a boxful upstairs, but I think +I like the white muslins best, they look so pretty when +they are clean, and you don't have to be so careful."</p> + +<p>"Do you ever get scolded when accidents happen?"</p> + +<p>"Well, not much. Cousin Eunice is so sweet. +Cousin Elizabeth was more particular."</p> + +<p>"And Miss Winn?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear Rachel loves me too much," the +child said laughingly.</p> + +<p>There were so many odd and pretty things that they +staid up until all the girls had come—not one of them +declined. Then they went down to the parlors.</p> + +<p>"Cousin Chilian said this back room was to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +mine. That lovely desk and the cabinet were my own +mother's. And the table is teakwood. The chair +father had carved for me, and that big portrait is +father. This case has miniatures of them both, but it +is too big ever to wear."</p> + +<p>"What a pity!"</p> + +<p>It was a <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'beutifully'">beautifully</ins> engraved gold case, set with +jewels.</p> + +<p>"Well, you are a lucky girl! And you can have all +these yourself. You just don't have to share them +with anybody. Is the room truly yours?"</p> + +<p>"Why, it is to put my things in, but anybody can +come in it, and we can go in the other room. Most +of those articles were Cousin Chilian's father's and +mother's, and the great clock in the hall came over in +1640. It's funny;" and she laughed. "Old furniture +and quilts and things never get cross and queer as +folks sometimes do."</p> + +<p>"Well, they're not really alive."</p> + +<p>"And they last so much longer than folks."</p> + +<p>They had not inspected all the things when Miss +Winn invited them out to supper. She took the head +of the table, and began to talk so that they should not +feel embarrassed. The lovely old china was on the +table, and two vases of flowers that looked as if they +were set with gems. 'Mimy passed the plates of bread +and butter and cold meats and cottage cheese, and +after a little they all began to talk as if it was recess at +school.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Chilian Leverett passed through the sitting-room +and thought it was really an enchanting sight, +and that Cynthia was the prettiest girl of them all.</p> + +<p>People had not thought up ice cream in those days, +but they made lovely custards, baked in cups with +handles, and a tiny spoon to eat them with. They were +the last of the tea.</p> + +<p>Then they went into the front parlor, which was the +larger and played fox and geese, and blind-man's buff +in a ring. Oh, Elizabeth, it was enough to disturb +your rest to have those merry feet twinkle over the +beautiful rug, when you scarcely dared walk tiptoe +for fear of crushing the soft pile. But they had a +grand, good time.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Leverett brought in Cousin Eunice, who +had a bit of white at her neck and wrists, and a lavender +bow on her cap. She had protested against the +bow, but Miss Winn had carried her point.</p> + +<p>Mr. Leverett set them to doing some amusing things +he had resurrected from his own boyhood. Catches +on words, such as "Malaga grapes are very good +grapes, but the grapes of Oporto are better." And +then, "A hen, a hen, but not a rooster. Can you say +<i>that?</i>" They were greatly puzzled and looked at Cynthia, +who was silently smiling, saying it over in every +manner, until at last one girl almost shrieked out, +"<i>That</i>," and there was a chorus of laughter.</p> + +<p>At nine o'clock they were bidden to come home. +Some of them were sent for and those who lived near<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +together went in a group. Ben Upham came for his +sisters.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why they couldn't have had boys," said +Ben to Polly. "Ever so many of us would have been +glad to come."</p> + +<p>"Well, we didn't have any real boys' plays. But +the supper was elegant. And 'Mimy waited so nicely. +Cynthia's going to have the back parlor for hers, and +Mr. Leverett has bought a new spinet. And she has +the most beautiful things——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I've seen those;" rather impatiently.</p> + +<p>"And Mr. Leverett's just splendid!"</p> + +<p>"I always told you so;" somewhat grumpily. +"But I'd rather be up in the study with him and Cynthy +than to go to half a dozen parties."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we weren't in the study at all."</p> + +<p>"No, that isn't for girls." So he had scored one, +after all.</p> + +<p>It was the general verdict when the tea party was +talked over that Cynthia Leverett was in a fair way +of being spoiled. A man didn't know how to bring up +a girl, and, of course, Miss Winn let her have her own +way. Miss Eunice had given in to her sister so long +that she gave in to every one else.</p> + +<p>Friends went to call and found the children had +not exaggerated. Now and then a neighbor was +asked in to supper, and found Cynthia a nice, modest +girl, with no airs of superiority.</p> + +<p>They had some journeys about. They went up to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +the bay of Fundy and cruised around, chatting with +fishermen and French settlers in their odd costumes, +looked at their funny little huts, and were amazed at +the children rolling round in the sand and the sun. +Cousin Chilian talked to them, but their language was +a sort of patois difficult to understand.</p> + +<p>After that Cynthia was much interested in the +French and English war. And the whole country was +watching the Corsican who had made himself master +of half of Europe.</p> + +<p>"It is a wonderful world," Cynthia said when they +were safe in the study again. "And I wonder if it is +narrow and selfish to be glad that you are just you?"</p> + +<p>He was amused at the idea. But he couldn't recall +that he had ever been anxious to change with any +one.</p> + +<p>"And that <i>you</i> are just <i>you</i>. I couldn't like any +one else as well, not even Cousin Giles, and I do like +him very much."</p> + +<p>Chilian felt a rise of color stealing up his cheek. +The preference was sweet, for Cousin Giles was extremely +indulgent to her, and he was not a child enthusiast +either.</p> + +<p>In those days no one supposed parents and friends +were put in the world purposely for children's pleasure. +They didn't even consider they came for <i>their</i> +pleasure. It was right to have them, they were to be +the future men and women, workers, legislators, and +homemakers. They didn't always have easy times, nor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +their own way, and they were not thought to be wiser +than their parents, even in the choice of professions +for life. But there were many fine brave fellows +among the boys, and the girls went on, making pretty +good wives and mothers. If life did not bring them +just what they wished, they accepted it and did the +best they could.</p> + +<p>Anthony Drayton came to make Cousin Chilian a +visit and pass an examination for Harvard. With a +little help he had worked his way through the academy. +He was one of the brave, resolute boys, and, +though it grieved him to go against his father's +wishes, he had decided for himself.</p> + +<p>"I really could not bury myself on a farm," he +confessed. "I want a wider life, I want to mix with +men and take an interest in the country. Not that I +despise farming, and if one could branch out and do +many new things, but to keep on year after year in +the old rut, corn and potatoes, wheat and rye—just +as grandfather did. What is the use of a man living +if he can't strike out some new ways? Maybe I'd +been willing to go to the new countries, but father was +just as opposed to that."</p> + +<p>He was a fresh, fair lad, with eyes of the Leverett +blue, a strong, fine face, not delicate as Cousin Chilian's. +His hair was not very dark, but his brows well +defined, and with the eyelashes much darker than the +hair. His voice had such a cheerful uplift.</p> + +<p>"You have quite decided then?" Chilian wondered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +if he could ever have gone against his father's wishes, +but in that case father and son had similar tastes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; I've nothing farther to look for, and I'm +willing to leave my share to the other children. I +know I can make my way, and I'm ready to work and +wait."</p> + +<p>His voice had such a nice wholesome ring that it +inspired you with faith in him.</p> + +<p>Cousin Eunice took a great fancy to him. They +talked over the visit of years ago. It seemed to her as +if it had just been the beginning of things.</p> + +<p>One sister was grown up and "keeping company," +the other a nice handy girl. The next brother would +be a great help—he cared nothing for books. Both of +the Brent cousins were married, one living on the farm +with his mother, the other having struck out for himself. +And Miss Eliza Leverett was weakly. Like +many women of that period, when all hope of marrying +and having a home of her own was past, she sank +down into a gentle nonentity and dreamed of Cousin +Chilian. Not that she had expected to captivate him, +but life with some one like that would set one on the +highest pinnacle.</p> + +<p>He thought Cousin Cynthia—they were always +cousins, to the fourth generation—was the sweetest, +daintiest, and most winsome thing he had ever seen—and +so she was, for his acquaintance with girls had +been limited. They looked over the old treasures in +the house and thought it wonderful any one should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +ever go to India and return without being wrecked. +They walked about the lovely garden, and he was +amazed at her familiarity with flowers and plants he +had never seen.</p> + +<p>Then she took him over to the Uphams, for an old +friend came in to play checkers with Cousin Chilian. +Polly was bright and merry, but somehow Ben seemed +rather captious. Anthony listened with surprise at the +bright sayings they flung at one another.</p> + +<p>The next day he and Cousin Chilian went over +topics for examination. His reading had not been extensive +but thorough. In mathematics he was excellent. +But he found some time to chat with Cynthia, +and they both walked down to the warehouse with +Cousin Chilian.</p> + +<p>What a sight it was! He had read of such things, +but to see the hundreds of busy men, the great fleet +of vessels, the docks piled with all kinds of wares, the +boxes and bales lying round in endless confusion. +And the great ocean, lost over beyond in the far-off +sky.</p> + +<p>When the two had gone up to Boston, Cynthia felt +very lonely. She had been sipping the sweets of unspoken +admiration. She saw it in the eyes, in the +deference, as if he was almost afraid of her, in the +sudden flush when she turned her eyes to him. It +was a new kind of worship.</p> + +<p>She went over to the Uphams. Polly had been having +her sampler framed. The acorn border was very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +pretty in its greens and browns. Then a stiff little +tree grew up both sides, about like those that +came in the Noah's Ark later on. And between these +two trees was worked in cross-stitch:</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Mary Upham is my name"> +<tr><td align='left'>"Mary Upham is my name,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">America is my nation;</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Salem is my dwelling place,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">And Christ is my salvation."</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>"Isn't the frame nice?" she asked. "I made father +two shirts and he gave me the frame and the glass. +Peter Daly made it. And the frame is oiled and polished +until the grain shows—well, almost like watered +silk. Gitty Sprague has a beautiful pelisse of gray +watered silk. And now I have one thing for my house. +I'm beginning to lay by."</p> + +<p>"Your house!" Cynthia ejaculated in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes—when I'm married. You have such +lots of things, you'll never have to save up."</p> + +<p>Cynthia was wondering what she could give away. +Not anything that was her father's or her mother's.</p> + +<p>"I'll paint you a picture. You do so much better +needlework than I that I should be ashamed to offer +you any."</p> + +<p>"And the girls will give me some, I know. I'd +fifty times rather have the picture. What a nice young +fellow that cousin is! I'm glad his name isn't Leverett. +There's such a host of them. But I don't like +Anthony so well."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That was father's name. It's quite a family name. +It always sounds good to me."</p> + +<p>"And is he going to Harvard?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; even if he can't get in right away."</p> + +<p>"That's nice, too. It's quite the style for young +men to go to college. Some of them put on a sight of +airs, though. He doesn't look like that kind."</p> + +<p>"He isn't," she returned warmly. "He is going to +work his way through."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Hasn't he any father?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but his father will not do anything for him. +I think it is real grand of him."</p> + +<p>Polly nodded, but she lost interest in the young +man.</p> + +<p>Bentley walked home with Cynthia. It was afternoon, +so he did not really need to.</p> + +<p>"I suppose that cousin isn't going to live with +you?" he asked presently.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; he will have to live in Boston."</p> + +<p>"And come up here for Sundays?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I don't know. That would be nice. I +think I am growing fond of company."</p> + +<p>"Well, I can come over;" half jocosely.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I meant other people;" innocently.</p> + +<p>"Then you don't care for my coming?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do. Oh, do you remember that winter I +was half sick and how you used to come over and +read Latin? And I used to say it to myself after +you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> + +<p>That delighted him. He didn't feel so cross about +the young fellow, but he half hoped he wouldn't pass, +and have to go back to New Hampshire for another +year.</p> + +<p>They sat on the stoop and chatted until the old +stage stopped and Chilian alighted.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" the young girl cried, "where did you leave +Anthony?"</p> + +<p>"With Cousin Giles. The examinations will begin +to-morrow."</p> + +<p>It was near supper-time and Ben rose to go. Sometimes +they asked him to stay to supper, but to-night +they did not.</p> + +<p>Then an event happened that took Cynthia's entire +interest for a while. This was the return of Captain +Corwin. He came up the walk one day—quite a +grizzled old fellow it seemed, with the sailor's rolling +gait—and looked at her so sharply that she had a mind +to run away.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Captain Anthony's little girl," he cried. +"You have forgotten me. And it ain't been so long +either."</p> + +<p>She thought a moment and turned from red to +white. Then she stretched out both hands and cried, +her eyes and voice full of tears:</p> + +<p>"Oh, you couldn't bring him back!"</p> + +<p>"No, little Missy. He'd shipped for the last time +before I'd reached there and gone to a better haven. +He was the best friend I ever had. But he knew it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +long afore, and that was why he wanted you safe with +friends."</p> + +<p>"I know now." She brushed the tears from her +eyes.</p> + +<p>"And I hope you've been happy."</p> + +<p>"I waited and waited at first. Sometimes I wished +I was a bird. Oh, wouldn't we have a lovely time if +we could fly? And one time in the winter I was quite +ill—it was so cold and I did get so tired of waiting. +Then Cousin Chilian told me he had gone to mother +and I knew how glad she would be to see him. I had +some nice times. Cousin Chilian loved me very much. +So did Cousin Eunice. I think Cousin Elizabeth +would if she had lived longer, but she went away, too. +Oh, I've done so many things—studied books, and +taken journeys, and made friends, and painted pictures, +flowers, and such. And I've tried to paint the +sea, but I can't make it move and seem like a real sea."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Missy, how smart you must be!"</p> + +<p>"There are so many things I don't know," she +laughed. "And now tell me about yourself and why +you did not come back."</p> + +<p>"We had a pretty fair journey all along first. But +as we were nearing Torres Strait an awful storm took +us, and we were driven ashore almost a wreck and lost +two of our men. After a while we got patched up and +set sail again, but I was afraid we would never reach +harbor. Howsomever we did, in a pretty bad condition. +Poor <i>Flying Star</i> seemed on its last legs and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +'twasn't sea legs either. Then I went up to Hong +Kong and cruised around, buying stuff and selling it +elsewhere. The <i>Flying Star</i> was patched up again, +but she wasn't thought safe for a long journey. But +there was plenty of work near at hand. Of course, I +knew all about your father, and that the word must +have reached you, but I hated mortally to come back +and face you. But after a while the hankerin' for old +Salem grew upon me. And there was the <i>Aurora</i> +wantin' a captain, for the man who brought her out +died of a fever. So says I, 'I'm your man, and I've +been over often enough to know the ropes, the islands, +and p'ints of danger and safe sailing.' So here I be +once more. But jiminy Peter! I should hardly 'a' +knowed little old Salem. Why, she looks as if she +was going to outsail all creation!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, we're getting very grand. New streets, and +splendid new houses, and stores, and churches. Why, +Boston isn't very much finer."</p> + +<p>"Don't b'lieve Boston harbor can show tonnage +with her! And where's first mate?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, but he will be in soon. Oh, +there's Rachel. Rachel, come here to an old friend."</p> + +<p>The captain shook hands heartily. "Why, you don't +seem to have changed a mite, only to grow younger +and plump as a partridge."</p> + +<p>It had all to be talked over again and in the midst +of it supper was ready, and there was Miss Eunice's +surprise. Cynthia could hardly eat, the long journey<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +and the dangers seemed such a strange thing now. +Had she really come from India, or was it all a +dream?</p> + +<p>Yes, old Salem was almost fading out of the minds +of even middle-aged people. There were curious +stories told about witches and ghosts, but the real +witchcraft was dying out of mind and the old houses +that had been associated with it were looked upon as +curiosities. Public spirit was being roused. In 1804 +the East India Marine Society left the Stearns house +and moved to the new Pickman Building in Essex +Street. People began to send in curiosities that had +been stored away in garrets: models of early vessels, +articles from Calcutta, from the islands about the Central +and South Pacific, cloths, and cloaks, and shawls, +and implements.</p> + +<p>The captain was quite sure Winter Island had +grown larger—perhaps it had, by docking out. And +he declared the streets looked like London, with the +gayly gowned women, the stores, the carriages, for a +number of handsome late ones were to be seen. There +were a few fine young men on the promenade and +they were attired in the height of fashion, as the society +men of New York and Philadelphia. They were +still paying attention to business and devoting the +evenings to pleasure. Descendants of the strict old +Puritans met to play cards and have dances and gay +times with the young ladies. In the afternoon a cup +of tea would be offered to callers, or a piece of choice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +cake and a glass of wine—often home-made. There +were few excesses.</p> + +<p>Many were still wearing the old Continental attire, +yet you saw an old Puritan gentleman, with his long +coat, his high-crowned hat, black silk stockings, and +low shoes with great steel buckles.</p> + +<p>Anthony was very much interested in the captain, +whose best friend had been Anthony Leverett. He +was proud of the name, and Cynthia's story was like +a romance to him. He was taken up quite cordially +by Cousin Giles, and very cordially by Mrs. Stevens, +who had a liking for young men when they were well-mannered. +He had managed to enter Harvard, with +some studies to make up. Chilian Leverett insisted +he should do no teaching this year, and offered him +enough to see him through, but he would only accept +it as a loan.</p> + +<p>Bentley Upham was a year ahead and had a good +standing, but he felt a little jealous of the young country +fellow—"bumpkin" he would have liked to call +him, but he was not that. A young man received at +Mr. Giles Leverett's, and who sometimes escorted Mrs. +Stevens to an entertainment, was not to be ignored.</p> + +<p>The captain staid in port nearly two months and +Cynthia experienced her old fondness for him, if he +was a little uncouth and rough. They went down to +see the <i>Aurora</i> off and she recalled the day she had +said good-bye to the <i>Flying Star</i>, that was to bring +back her father.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> + +<p>As for her she was very busy learning to play and +to paint. It was a young lady's accomplishment, but +she really did very well. There were girls' teas, and +now and then a small dance that began at seven and +ended at nine, but boys were invited generally. Miss +Polly Upham was quite in the swim, as we should say +now. Mothers expected their daughters to marry, +and how could they if they did not see young men? +But there was a certain propriety observed, and very +little playing fast and loose with the most sacred +period of life, with the greatest God-given blessing—Love.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>IN GAY OLD SALEM</h3> + + +<p>The next winter Cynthia was fairly launched on +society. There was no regular coming out in almost +bridal array, with a grand tea and a houseful of +flowers. When a girl left school she expected to be +invited out and to give little companies at home. Almost +the first thing, she was asked to be one of the +six bridesmaids at Laura Manning's wedding.</p> + +<p>The Mannings had one of the splendid new houses +on Chestnut Street, with spacious grounds before the +houses grew so close together. Avis Manning was +still in school, Cynthia was between the two in age. +Mr. Manning was connected with the East India trade +and an old friend of the Leverett family. It had begun +by Cynthia being invited to a girls' tea, and Mrs. Manning +had taken a great fancy to her. Laura was not +very tall, and they did not want any one to dwarf the +bride.</p> + +<p>Every one was to be in white, the bride in a soft, +thick silk, and she was to have a court train. The +maids were to be in mull or gauze, as a very pretty +thin material was called. The Empress Josephine had +brought in new styles that certainly were very becom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span>ing +to young people. The short waist and square +neck, the sleeve puffs that had shrunk so much they no +longer reached the ears, the short curls around the +edge of the forehead arranged so the white parting +showed, the dainty feet in elegant slippers and choice +silk stockings that could not help showing, for the +skirts were short. Pretty feet and slim ankles seemed +to be a mark of good family.</p> + +<p>"Will I do?" Cynthia stood before Cousin Chilian +with a half-saucy smile. Around her throat she wore +a beautiful Oriental necklace, with pendants of different +fine stones that sparkled with every turn of the +head. There were match pendants in her ears, and +just back of the rows of curls was a jewelled comb.</p> + +<p>She was a pretty girl without being a striking +beauty. But her eyes would have redeemed almost +any face, and now they were all aglow with a wonderful +light.</p> + +<p>He looked his admiration.</p> + +<p>"Because if <i>you</i> don't like me——"</p> + +<p>There was a charming half-coquettish way about +her, but she never made a bid for compliments.</p> + +<p>"What then?" laughing.</p> + +<p>"I'd stay home and spoil the wedding party. I +know they couldn't fill my place on a short notice."</p> + +<p>He thought they couldn't fill it at all, but he said +almost merrily, "You need not stay at home."</p> + +<p>Cousin Eunice said she looked pretty enough for +the bride. Miss Winn had attended to her toilette,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +and now she wrapped a soft silken cloak about her and +Cousin Chilian put her in the carriage. He was all in +his best, ruffled shirt-front, light brocaded silk waist-coat, +and there were lace ruffles about his hands.</p> + +<p>One feels inclined to wonder at the extravagance of +those days, when one sees some of the heirlooms that +have come down to us. But their handsome gowns +went through several seasons, and then were made +over for the daughters. And they did not have their +jewels reset every few months.</p> + +<p>Such a roomful of pretty girls! Youth and health +and picturesque dressing make almost any one pretty. +Miss Laura looked fine, but she paused to say, "Oh, +Cynthia, what an elegant necklace!"</p> + +<p>"Father had it made for mother," she replied +simply.</p> + +<p>They patted and pulled a little, powdered, too.</p> + +<p>Miss Willard, the great mantua-maker of that day, +who superintended the dressing of brides, saw that +everything was right. The young men came from +their dressing-room, and they began to form the procession. +Both halls were illuminated with no end of +candles, and guests were standing about. Mr. Lynde +Saltonstall took his bride-to-be, and they let the white +train sweep down the broad stairway, then Avis Manning +and Ed Saltonstall followed. They were not +much on knick-names in those days, but he had been +called Ed to distinguish him from some cousins.</p> + +<p>Cynthia and a cousin came next, and there were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +several other relatives. It was a beautiful sight. The +bride walked up to the white satin cushion on which +the couple would kneel during the prayer, the maids +and attendants made a semicircle around her, and +then the nearest relatives. The old white-haired minister +had married her mother.</p> + +<p>Then there was kissing and congratulation and Mrs. +Saltonstall had her new name, though Avis said she +liked Manning a hundred times better.</p> + +<p>"Then you wouldn't accept my name?" said Ed, +but he looked laughingly at Cynthia.</p> + +<p>"Indeed I wouldn't! I don't want any one's name +at present. I'm going to be the only daughter of the +house a while," she returned saucily.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if I ought to go on and ask all the +maids?" There was such a funny anxiety in his face +that it added to the merriment.</p> + +<p>"You needn't ask this one," said Ward Adams, and +Cousin Lois Reade blushed scarlet, though they all +knew she was engaged.</p> + +<p>"But I'm going to dance with every maid. And +just at twelve I'm going to hunt for a glass slipper."</p> + +<p>His look at Cynthia said he needn't hunt very far, +and she blushed, which made her more enchanting +than before.</p> + +<p>They all laughed and talked, the older men teasing +the bride a little and giving her advice as to how she +should break in her new husband. Young people's +weddings were expected to be gay and every one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +added his or her mite. The fine new house was duly +admired. On one side it was all one long room, beautifully +decorated. On the other a library, for books +were beginning to come in fashion, even if you were +not a clergyman or a student. Then a kind of family +sitting-room, with a large dining-room at the back. +Some of the fine old houses were taken for public purposes +later on.</p> + +<p>They went out to refreshments and the bride cut the +cake with a silver knife. Large suppers were no +longer considered the style, but there was a bountiful +supply of delicacies. They drank health and long life +to the bride and groom, and good wishes of all kinds.</p> + +<p>The black waiter, in white gloves and white apron, +stood in the hall to deliver boxes of wedding cake as +the older people took their departure. And then the +fiddlers began to tune up. There were two minuets to +take in all the party. Cynthia and Mr. Jordan were +in the head one, with the bride. He was a little stiff +and excused himself, as he wasn't much given to dancing. +It didn't matter so much in the minuet.</p> + +<p>Then they paired off any way. Mr. Ed Saltonstall +caught Cynthia's hand.</p> + +<p>"I'm just dying to dance with you, and this is the +basket quadrille. Jordan dances like a pump handle, +but he's a good fellow. Now let us have something +worth while. I know you dance beautifully."</p> + +<p>"How do you know?" piquantly.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to be nautical and impertinent, but I'm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +afraid you'd report me to Mr. Leverett. Oh, it's in +you, in every motion. Aren't you glad you didn't live +in those old Puritan days when you would have been +put in the stocks if you had skipped across the room? +Come."</p> + +<p>That <i>was</i> dancing. Not a halt nor an ungraceful +turn, but every curve and motion was as perfect as if +they had danced together all their lives. She gave +two or three happy sighs. Her cheeks were like the +heart of a blush rose; she never turned very red when +she ran or skipped, and never looked blowsy.</p> + +<p>Another person watched and thought her the prettiest +thing in the room, and was very glad she belonged +to him.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry I have to dance with some one else and +it's Lois Reade. Adams would like to kick me, I +know, and she would be twice as happy with him. +That is the price you pay for assisting your brother +into matrimony. Next time there shall not be but one +bridesmaid, and I'll dance with her all the evening."</p> + +<p>"Next time? Will he be married twice?" she +asked demurely.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you witch! You are the most delicious +dancer—it almost seems as if you were sipping some +very fine wine——"</p> + +<p>"And it went to your head," she laughed.</p> + +<p>"Head and heels both. I'm extravagantly fond of +it with a partner like you. You'll go to the assemblies +this winter?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Is Mr. Leverett very—he's your guardian, and +somehow I stand just a little in awe of him. He is so +polished, and knows so much, and is he going to be +very exclusive?"</p> + +<p>"Why——" She didn't quite understand, but she +looked out of such lovely eyes that all his pulses +throbbed.</p> + +<p>"Take your places."</p> + +<p>She was standing there alone when Mr. Adams +asked her. That was only fair play. Mr. Saltonstall +was in the same set and he gave her hand a squeeze +when he took her, crumpled it all up in his, and she +flushed daintily.</p> + +<p>He could not dance with her again until the very +last. That was a "circle" in which you balanced and +turned your partner and went to the next couple, but +some way you returned to your own. There were +various pretty figures in it. Once or twice she was a +little confused, but he seemed always on the watch +for her.</p> + +<p>The music stopped and the fiddlers were locking +their cases. The dancers went out to the supper-room +again.</p> + +<p>"I'd rather dance than eat. I believe I could +dance without music. Would you like to try?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" with a frightened look that made him +laugh.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Leverett came, and Mr. Saltonstall was all +polite deference. He wished he could be invited to +call, but how was it to be managed?</p> + +<p>Then Cynthia went upstairs to put on her cloak. +The bride kissed her, and said she was glad to have +had her, and when they gave their house-warming she +must be sure to come.</p> + +<p>"I've had such a lovely time. Thank you ever so +much."</p> + +<p>"I'm the obliged one," was the reply.</p> + +<p>If she had not been in the carriage she must have +danced all the way home. There was music in her +head and a "spirit in her feet." She hardly heard +what Cousin Chilian was saying, only after they entered +the house and she slipped out of her wrap, with +his good-night, he said, "You are a very pretty girl, +Cynthia." Of course, he should have had more sense +than to foster a girl's vanity.</p> + +<p>The next morning she asked him about the assemblies.</p> + +<p>"They are very nice dancing parties. Only the best +people go and no sort of freedom or misbehavior is +tolerated. I think I'll take out a membership."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do, please do," she entreated.</p> + +<p>The elegant wedding was talked of for days. Girls +called on Miss Leverett—it seemed funny to be called +that. She was asked to join a sewing society that +made articles of clothing for the widows and children +of drowned sailors, and there were many of them on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +the New England coast. Her tender heart was +moved by the pathetic tales she heard.</p> + +<p>"Dear Cousin Eunice," she said one day, "I went +with one of the committee to see a poor sick woman +who is in awful destitution. There are three small +children, and when she is well she goes out washing. +They send her driftwood and old stuff from the ship-yards, +and one of the companies pays her rent. But +you should see the things! Such ragged quilts that +hardly hold together, and one little boy was without +stockings. There are so many things up in the garret +that you will never use——"</p> + +<p>"Likely, dear, but they are Chilian's."</p> + +<p>"He said I might ask you, that he was willing. +Can't we go up and find some? What is the use of +their being piled up year after year, and people in need? +Ah, if you could see the poor place!"</p> + +<p>Miss Eunice went unwillingly. The thrift of New +England did often shrivel into penuriousness. She +and Elizabeth were in the habit of putting away so +many partly worn articles for the time of need.</p> + +<p>"Those old blankets and quilts——"</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth thought they would do to cover over."</p> + +<p>"But there are so many better ones. And some on +the closet shelves that have never been used. Why, +there is enough to last a hundred years."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no;" with an alarmed expression.</p> + +<p>"And even I shall not last a hundred years. No +one does."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. I knew a woman who lived to be one +hundred and four."</p> + +<p>"Did she come to want?"</p> + +<p>"She had a good son to take care of her."</p> + +<p>"And you have Cousin Chilian. I read somewhere +in the Bible—I wish I could remember the chapters +and verses, 'While we have time let us do good unto +<i>all</i> men.' I suppose that means those who haven't +been frugal and careful, as well as the others."</p> + +<p>"We can't tell just what every sentence means."</p> + +<p>"But we can help them. And here is a poor +woman who doesn't go to taverns;" smiling tenderly +and with persuasive eyes.</p> + +<p>They picked out enough for a wagon-load. Some +of Cousin Chilian's clothes that would do to cut over, +old woollen blankets, and a variety of articles.</p> + +<p>"Let us put them all in this chest."</p> + +<p>"We might need the chest."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, we won't. They will be so much easier to +carry that way. Silas could drive down there. And, +oh, you can't imagine how much good they will do."</p> + +<p>Cynthia went down to see afterward, and the poor +woman's gratitude brought tears to her eyes.</p> + +<p>"They will be a perfect God-send this winter," she +said. "I've been frettin' as to what we should do. +I've never begged yet. Well, the Lord is good."</p> + +<p>Then there came another source of interest. Polly +Upham was "keeping company." A nice, steady +young man in the ship-chandlery business, with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +little money saved up, whose folks lived at Portsmouth. +He came regularly on Wednesday night and +Sundays to tea. They went to church in the evening, +and that certified it to the young people. Betty had +left school and was trying her hand at housekeeping. +Louis, the little fellow, was a big boy.</p> + +<p>Alice Turner was engaged also, and certainly very +much in love if she considered the young man a paragon. +Cynthia compared them all with Cousin Chilian, +and it wasn't a bit fair.</p> + +<p>She met Mr. Saltonstall at a small party, where +they played games and had forfeits.</p> + +<p>It was odd, she thought, how the girls chose him +in everything. She didn't choose him once. He spoke +of it afterward.</p> + +<p>"Why, I thought some of the others ought to have +a chance," she explained with winning sweetness. +"But if it had been dancing!" and she laughed, and +that reconciled him.</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Lynde Saltonstall gave her house-warming. +It was a simple dwelling and not very large, but +it was pretty as a picture. And young people didn't +expect to rival their fathers and mothers in the +start.</p> + +<p>They had dancing, and that was enough. They +were all young people, and two of the fiddlers were +there. They had a gay time and a nice supper.</p> + +<p>"I think Ed is smitten with Cynthia Leverett," +Laura remarked to her husband. "He seemed to feel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +annoyed that they had sent Miss Winn in the carriage +for her. She's a lovely dancer."</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't be a bad thing for Ed. She has lots +of money that just turns itself over on interest. And +her trustee has been buying up some choice Boston +property for her. She's pretty and has charming manners +and comes of a good family."</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Stevens asked her to come in to Boston +for a few days. She was going to have a little dancing +party.</p> + +<p>"My dear, you'll dance yourself to death," said +Cousin Eunice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. It isn't as hard as cleaning house or +washing, as some of the poor women do. And it is +tiresome to practise on the spinet, hour after hour—counting +time and all that. If I was a girl of twenty +years ago I'm afraid I should be chasing up and down +some old garret, spinning on the big wheel."</p> + +<p>Cousin Eunice laughed, too. Cynthia always made +commonplaces seem amusing, she accented them so +with her bright face.</p> + +<p>They were very glad to have her in Boston. Chilian +took her in on Saturday and staid with her until +Monday morning. On Sunday Anthony Drayton was +invited in to dinner. He had improved very much. +The country air had been effaced. And he was a gentleman +by instinct, and acquired cultivation readily.</p> + +<p>"And a fine fellow!" said Cousin Giles, rubbing +his hands. "He's decided to go in for law presently,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +and it will be a most excellent thing. I don't know but +I'll have to adopt him, as you did Cynthia."</p> + +<p>Anthony hovered about the young girl. She had +been cultivating her voice the last year. It was a +sweet parlor voice, adapted to the old-time songs. +Mrs. Stevens had a book of them and she sang most +cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I wish you were going to stay over another +Sunday," he exclaimed wistfully. "But I shall come +in on Tuesday evening. I don't dance, but Mrs. +Stevens is so kind to me, I've met several of the first +men in the city here."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am glad you are coming."</p> + +<p>It was a very sincere joy and she could not keep it +out of her face, did not try to. And it was such a +sweet face that she raised to his. He had a sudden unreasonable +wish that he was five years older and settled +in business, but then—she was very young.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Stevens said to her on Monday, after she had +read a note over and glanced up at her rather furtively, +"There's a friend of yours coming Tuesday +night—a friend from Salem that I hope you will be +glad to see."</p> + +<p>"From Salem——"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Saltonstall. He was in here a fortnight or so +ago. His mother and I used to be great friends. I +happened to ask him if he knew the Leveretts, and he +told me about his brother's marriage, that you were +one of the bridesmaids."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. Laura Manning was one of the older +girls at Madam Torrey's. They had just gone in their +new house and the wedding was splendid. And I +liked Mr. Edward Saltonstall so much. He is a +most beautiful dancer. I'm so glad he is coming. +You see I don't know many of the new dances, and I +shouldn't so much mind making a break with him."</p> + +<p>She looked up in her sweet, brave innocence as she +uttered it.</p> + +<p>"You are not in love with him, little lady, and he is +very much smitten with you," Mrs. Stevens ruminated. +"But you shall have the chance."</p> + +<p>"I've always liked Ed," she continued. "He's a +nice, frank, honest fellow, pretty gay at times, but not +at all in the dissipated line, just full of fun and frolic. +So I asked him down, and here he says he will come," +waving her note. "I look out for men who dance. I +do like to see young folks have a good time. The +older people can play cards."</p> + +<p>It seemed rather odd that at eight o'clock not a soul +had come. At home they would be beginning the fun +by this time. Then a sudden influx of girls, some she +had met before—two or three young men—and then +young Saltonstall, who had been counting the moments +the last half hour.</p> + +<p>"I am so glad to see you. It was such a surprise."</p> + +<p>He could see it in her face, hear it in her voice. +He really was afraid of saying something foolish—something +that would be no harm if they were alone.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I've known Mrs. Stevens a long while. And Mr. +Giles Leverett. It's queer—well, not quite that either—that +I've known you such a little while. I always +thought of you as a child, though I've seen you drive +your pony carriage."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Stevens is delightful."</p> + +<p>Then there was another relay, quite a number of +young gentlemen. The black fiddlers in the hall began +to tune up.</p> + +<p>There were two very handsome girls and beautifully +gowned. All of them looked pretty in dancing +attire. Then a quadrille was called. There were just +eight couples.</p> + +<p>Of course, Mr. Saltonstall took her. The rug was +up and the floor had been polished. The dancing was +elegant, harmonious.</p> + +<p>"The next is the Spanish dance. You will like that. +The windings about are like the song words to the +music."</p> + +<p>"But—I don't know it;" and she shrank back.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you'll get into it. You are the kind that could +pick up any step. You make me think of a swallow +as it darts round. If it made a mistake no one would +know it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'd rather not;" entreatingly.</p> + +<p>"Don't spoil the set."</p> + +<p>She rose up and let him lead her out. She had a +way of yielding so quickly, when it was right and best, +very flattering to a man in love and easily misread.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> + +<p>If dancing had been art instead of nature, something +by rote instead of a segment of inner harmony, +she could not have succeeded so well. He warded off +the few blunders, and at the third change she had +another well-bred partner. But she was glad to get +back to him. The joy shone in her dangerous eyes.</p> + +<p>There were some new dances coming in. One of +the girls from New York and her escort waltzed up +and down the room in a slow-gliding manner that was +the poetry of motion. She was fascinated, enchanted, +and she knew she could do it herself.</p> + +<p>"We'll try it sometime," Saltonstall said.</p> + +<p>Mr. Leverett came in, bringing Anthony Drayton +with him. He knew he was late, but he didn't dance, +and he had earned five dollars copying that evening. +But he must see Cynthia.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I thought you would not come!"</p> + +<p>Then she had been giving a thought to him out of +her happy time!</p> + +<p>"I was detained. Are they all well, or didn't Cousin +Chilian come down?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no."</p> + +<p>They were being marshalled out to supper.</p> + +<p>"You'll have to content yourself with me," said +Mrs. Stevens to Anthony, and he accepted smilingly. +But she placed Cynthia next, so he could have a little +talk with her. He was getting on so well, and she +was glad for him.</p> + +<p>Some one wanted Miss Tracy to waltz again. Then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +they had a galop, and the party broke up. Anthony +said good-night, and that he was coming up on Saturday. +Then Saltonstall drew her into a little nook in +the hall that made a connection with another room +when it was open. Mrs. Stevens had smiled over its +uses.</p> + +<p>"Cynthia, my darling, I must tell you this," and his +voice seemed to throb with emotion. "I want the +right to come and visit you as lovers have, for I love +you, love you! I am coming to see Mr. Leverett and +ask his permission. I do nothing but dream of you +day and night. You are the sweetest, dearest——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't! don't!" She struggled in the clasp. +"Oh, I can't—I——" and he felt her slight body +tremble, so he loosed it.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me. I wanted you to know so no one can +take you from me. I want to see you often. Oh, love, +good-night, good-night!"</p> + +<p>He pressed a rapturous kiss upon her hand and +was gone. She slipped through to the dining-room +and took a glass of water.</p> + +<p>"You look tired to death, little country girl," said +Uncle Giles, and he kissed her on the forehead.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>LOVERS AND LOVERS</h3> + + +<p>"Take me home with you, Cousin Chilian," she +pleaded, when he came in the next day.</p> + +<p>"But I thought"—he studied her in surprise.</p> + +<p>"I want to go home," she interrupted, and her under +lip had a quiver in it that would have disarmed almost +any one, persuaded as well.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes. Didn't you enjoy the party?" He felt +suddenly at loss, he was not used to translating moods +with all his knowledge.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it was delightful! And some such pretty girls. +There were new dances. And Mrs. Stevens <i>is</i> charming. +Anthony came over a little while."</p> + +<p>In spite of inducements held out, she would go. +Cousin Giles was almost cross about it.</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad to get back," she said to Rachel. +"One feels so safe here."</p> + +<p>"Was there any danger?" laughed the elder.</p> + +<p>Cynthia's face was scarlet. It wasn't danger +exactly, but she felt better under Cousin Chilian's +wing. And she was her bright gay self all the +evening.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></p> + +<p>But how to get her story told? For if Mr. Saltonstall +came and asked for her company, as they termed +it then, and not being warned, he should consent——</p> + +<p>They sat by the study fire. It had turned out cold +and cloudy, with indications of snow. He had a lamp +near him on the small table, and read and thought, as +his glance wandered dreamily over the leaping flashing +blue and yellow flames. If it stormed for one or +two days, she could not have come home.</p> + +<p>She rose presently and came and stood by him, laid +her hand lightly on his shoulder. She was a young +lady now, and it was hardly proper to draw her down +on his knee.</p> + +<p>"Cousin Chilian;" hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>"Well, dear?" in an inquiring tone.</p> + +<p>"There is something I ought to tell you, and I want +to ask you—to—to do—oh, I hardly know how to say +it. Mr. Saltonstall came down; he and Mrs. Stevens +are old friends——"</p> + +<p>Ah, he knew now. This young man had dared to +invade the virginal sweetness of her soul, to trouble +the quiet stream of girlhood. He was roused, strangely +angry, for all his placid temperament.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't help it—just before he went away—and +I couldn't have dreamed of such a thing——"</p> + +<p>Then she hid her head down on his shoulder and +cried.</p> + +<p>"Dear—my dear little girl—oh, yes, it would have to +happen sometime. And—he loves you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, that isn't the worst;" illogically, between her +sobs. "He is coming to ask you if he may—and I +don't want him to come that way. I just want it as it +was before. Polly Upham can't think or talk of anything +but her intended, and it gets tiresome. He +doesn't seem so very wonderful to me. And wouldn't +it weary you to hear me praising some one all the +time?"</p> + +<p>"I think it would," he answered honestly, yet with +some confusion of mind.</p> + +<p>"So I don't want it;" with more courage in her +voice. "I want good times with them all. And I +don't see how you can come to love any one all in a +moment."</p> + +<p>Was he hearing aright? Didn't she really want the +young man for a lover? He was unreasonably, +fatuously glad, and the pulses, that were chilled a moment +ago, seemed to race hot through his body.</p> + +<p>"It was not quite marriage?" a little huskily.</p> + +<p>"He wanted to ask if he might have the right to +come, and he said he loved me, and, oh, I am +afraid——"</p> + +<p>She was trembling. He could feel it where she +leaned against him. He took sudden courage.</p> + +<p>"And you do not want him to come in that way? +It would most likely lead to an engagement. And then +I should have to listen to his praises continually. Yes, +it would be rather hard on me;" and he laughed with a +humorous sound.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span></p> + +<p>It heartened her a good deal. She was smiling now +herself, but there were tears on her cheek.</p> + +<p>"And you won't mind telling him; that is not <i>very</i> +much, that——"</p> + +<p>"I think you are too young to decide such a grave +matter, Cynthia," he began seriously. "And you +ought to have a glad, sweet youth. There is no reason +why you should rush into marriage. You have a +pleasant home with those that love you——"</p> + +<p>"And I don't want to go away. I feel as if I would +like to live here always. You are so good and indulgent, +and Cousin Eunice is so nice, now that she +doesn't seem afraid of any one. Were we all afraid +of Cousin Elizabeth? And we have such nice talks. +She tells me about the old times and what queer +thoughts people had, and how hard they were. And +about girls whose lovers went away to sea and never +came back, and how they watched and waited, and +sometimes we cry over them. And the house is so +cheerful, and I can have all the flowers I want, and +friends coming in, and, oh, I shall never want to go +away, because I shall never love any one as well as +you."</p> + +<p>That was very sweet, but it was a girl's innocence, +and her face did not change color in the +admission.</p> + +<p>"Well, I will explain the matter to Mr. Saltonstall. +I am glad you told me, otherwise I should hardly have +known your wishes on the subject. And now we will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +go on having good times together, and count out +lovers."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes." She gave his hand a squeeze and was +her own happy self, not feeling half as sorry for the +man who would come to be denied as he did.</p> + +<p>It snowed furiously the next morning, and sullenly +the day after. Then it was cold, and she said half a +dozen times a day she was so glad she came home.</p> + +<p>She did not see Mr. Saltonstall when he called, and +she really did miss him at two little companies. Then +she wondered if she oughtn't give one, she had gone +to so many.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," Cousin Chilian answered. She might +have turned the house upside down so long as she was +going to stay in it.</p> + +<p>Then she wondered if she ought to invite <i>him</i>. Mrs. +Lynde and she were very good friends, and she should +ask Avis, of course. They spoke—they were not ill +friends.</p> + +<p>Chilian considered. "Yes, I think I would," he +made answer.</p> + +<p>They had a merry time and danced on the beautiful +rugs, and had a fine supper. And Mr. Saltonstall +was glad to be friends. She <i>was</i> young and presently +she might think of lovers. He would try and keep his +chance good.</p> + +<p><i>Anthony came now</i> and then and spent a Sunday +with them. He loved to hear Cousin Chilian read +Greek verses, but the pretty love odes seemed to mean<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +Cynthia, and he used to watch her. Then Ben Upham +was a visitor as well, and used to play checkers with +her, as that was considered quite a good exercise for +one's brains.</p> + +<p>Polly would be married in the spring, Alice Turner +in June. The Turners were always besieging her for +a two or three days' visit, and the Turner young men +hovered round her. She never seemed to do anything, +she never demanded attention, but when she glanced +up at them, or smiled, they followed her as the children +did the Pied Piper. She might have led them +into dangerous places, but she was very simple of +heart. Yet the danger was alluring to them.</p> + +<p>Polly came to her for a good deal of counsel. When +there were two patterns of sleeves, which should she +take?</p> + +<p>"Why, I'd have the India silk made with this and +the English gingham with that—you see it will iron so +much easier. Miss Grayson does up the puffs on a +shirring cord, then you can let them out in the washing."</p> + +<p>"That's a fine idea. You do have such splendid +ideas, Cynthy."</p> + +<p>"They are mostly Rachel Winn's," laughed the +young girl.</p> + +<p>They had a capable woman in the kitchen now. +Cynthia should have been mastering the high art of +housekeeping, people thought, instead of running about +so much and driving round in the pony carriage with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +Miss Winn, or a girl companion. Of course, there was +plenty of money, but one never quite knew what would +happen.</p> + +<p>John Loring was building his house as people who +could did in those days. They would not be able to +finish it all inside, and there was a nook left for an +addition when they needed it. Polly was to have some +of grandmother's furniture, and John's mother would +provide a little. Corner cupboards were quite a substitute +in those days for china closets, and window-seats +answered for chairs. But there was bedding and +napery, and no one thought of levying on friends. +Relatives looked over their stock and bestowed a few +articles. Cynthia thought of the stores in the old house +and wished she might donate them. She did pick out +some laces from her store, and two pretty scarfs, one +of which Polly declared would be just the thing to trim +her wedding hat, which was of fine Leghorn. So she +would only have to buy the feather.</p> + +<p>They haunted the stores and occasionally picked up +a real bargain. Even at that period shoppers did not +throw their money broadcast.</p> + +<p>"Cynthia Leverett is the sweetest girl I know," +Polly said daily, and Bentley was of the same opinion.</p> + +<p>They were to stand at the wedding.</p> + +<p>"And I want you to wear that beautiful frock that +you had when Laura Manning was married. I shall +only have two bridesmaids, you and Betty, but I want +you to look your sweetest."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> + +<p>And surely she did. They had a very nice wedding +party and the next day Polly went to her own house +and had various small tea-drinkings, and she arranged +them for Saturday so Bentley could come up. They +were wonderfully good friends, but Cynthia felt as if +she had outgrown him. In her estimation he was just +a big friendly boy that one could talk to familiarly. +Anthony was more backward in the laughter and +small-talk.</p> + +<p>Then there was the college degree. There was no +such great fuss made over commencement then, no +grand regattas, no inter-collegiate athletics, for it was +a rather serious thing to begin a young man's life and +look forward to marriage.</p> + +<p>He went straight to Mr. Chilian. It was the proper +thing to be fortified with the elders' consent. Of +course, he would not marry in some time yet, but if he +could be her "company" and speak presently—they +had been such friends.</p> + +<p>Chilian studied the honest young fellow, whose face +was in a glow of hope. So young to dream of love +and plan for the future!</p> + +<p>"You are both too young;" and his voice had a bit +of sharpness in it. "Cynthia is not thinking of such +things."</p> + +<p>"But one <i>can</i> think of them. They begin somehow +and go into your very life. I believe I've loved her a +long while."</p> + +<p>"I think neither of you really know what love is.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +No, I cannot consent to it. I want her to go on having +a good free time without any anxiety. I have some +right to her, being her guardian."</p> + +<p>"But—I will wait—I didn't mean to ask her immediately."</p> + +<p>"We are going on a journey presently. I cannot +have her disturbed with this. No, your attention +must be devoted to business for the next two +years."</p> + +<p>He drew a long breath. "But you don't mean I +must break off—everything?" and there was an unsteadiness +in his voice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. Not if you can keep to the old friendliness."</p> + +<p>Then Chilian Leverett dropped into his easy-chair +and thought. The child had grown very dear to him, +she was a gift from her father. A tumultuous, uncomprehended +pain wrenched his very soul. To live without +her—to miss her everywhere! To have lonely +days, longer lonely evenings when the dreariness of +winter set in. And yet she had a right to the sweet, +rich draught of love. But she did not need it amid all +the pleasures of youth. Let her have two or three +years, even if it was blissful thoughtlessness. But he +must put her on her guard. A young fellow soon +changed his mind. The old couplet sang itself in his +brain:</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="If she be not fair for me"> +<tr><td align='left'>"If she be not fair for me,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">What care I how fair she be?"</span></td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span></p> + +<p>Did he get over his early love and forget? We all +say, "But ours was different."</p> + +<p>How to find the right moment? Ben did not come +over. She was very busy with this friend and that, +youth finds so <i>many</i> interests. But one evening, when +they were sitting on the porch in the moonlight, the +young fellow walked slowly along, glanced at them, +halted.</p> + +<p>She flew down to the gate.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Ben, what has happened?" she cried, the most +bewitching anxiety in her face. "Why, you have not +been in—for weeks."</p> + +<p>"Not quite two weeks." Had it seemed so long to +her? To him it had been months.</p> + +<p>"Oh, come in. Cousin Chilian will be glad to see +you."</p> + +<p>The radiant cordiality in her face unnerved him.</p> + +<p>"And you?" Yes, he must know.</p> + +<p>"Do you have to ask that question?"</p> + +<p>The sweet, dangerous eyes said too much, but the +smile was that of amusement.</p> + +<p>So they walked up the path together. Mr. Leverett +greeted him in a friendly manner.</p> + +<p>"I thought I ought to come in and say good-bye. +I'm going off on some business for father, and may not +be back for several weeks."</p> + +<p>"That sounds as if you needed an apology for coming +at all," she commented with half-resentful gayety.</p> + +<p>He flushed and made no immediate reply.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And we are going to take a journey as well. Up +somewhere in Maine. Mr. Giles Leverett insists we +shall, for our health, but I think it is our delightful +company. He has to go to look after a large estate +where some people think of founding a town. Isn't it +funny?" and she gave her bewitching laugh that was +like the notes of silver bells, soft, yet clear. "They +must go off and build up new places. And some people +are going West, as if there wasn't room here. +Have you noticed that we are overcrowded?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sometimes along the docks it looks that +way."</p> + +<p>"I like a good many people. Often Merrits' is +crowded, and it's funny to catch bits of sentences. And +at Plummer's as well. Did you ever read right across +the paper, one line in each column, and notice the odd +and twisted-up sense it made? That's about the way +it sounds."</p> + +<p>How bright and charming she was! Ben could not +keep his eyes from her radiant face. Was she really +a coquette, Chilian wondered. Yet she was so simple +with it all, so seemingly careless of the effect. That +was the danger of it.</p> + +<p>He lingered like one entranced. Poor young lad! +Chilian began to feel sorry for him.</p> + +<p>She walked down to the gate with him, and hoped +they would have a nice time when autumn came, if he +meant to stay in Salem.</p> + +<p>A young man not in love would have called her a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +bright, merry, chatty girl. He went away with the +consciousness that she liked him very much. Chilian +asked her if she did.</p> + +<p>She glanced up wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Why—he is nice, and being Polly's brother makes +it—well, more familiar. Then we can talk about Anthony. +I believe he didn't like him much at first, but +he does now."</p> + +<p>Oh, how could he put her on her guard! She was +not dreaming of love. Saltonstall's fancy had died out—no +doubt this would, too. Lad's love. Was it worth +ruffling up the sunny artlessness? But he would watch +the young men closer now that he knew the danger +line.</p> + +<p>He said simply to himself that he could not give her +up to any one else so soon. There would be a long life +of joy and satisfaction to her, and he knew she would +not grudge him these few years. Then, too, he was +quite certain she had not even had an imaginary fancy +for these two men—Ben was nothing but a boy.</p> + +<p>Anthony Drayton was to join them. Miss Winn +was to be Cynthia's companion. Mrs. Stevens had +refused to trust her precious self to any wilds, and +bear and wolf hunts, though Mr. Giles declared they +were not going to take guns along. He was not an +enthusiastic hunter. As for Chilian, such sport did not +attract him.</p> + +<p>The journey was partly by stage, partly on horseback, +and one or two days they left the ladies at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +tavern where they stopped. Cynthia was charmed +and amused at the uncouthness of the people and their +dialect in some places, and positive good breeding in +others. Anthony unearthed a college chum who was +tally man at a sawmill. The new town was really +making progress. A small chapel had been started, +a schoolhouse built. And twenty years later it was a +pretty town; in fifty years an enterprising city.</p> + +<p>"Anthony's going to be a first-class fellow. I +should like to have such a son. Chilian, you and I +should have married and have sons and daughters +growing up. But at my time of life I should want +them grown up. And smart, as well. I always feel +sorry for the fathers of dull lads, when they have +plenty of means to educate them. Yes, I should want +mine to have a good supply of brains."</p> + +<p>Chilian Leverett enjoyed the change very much and +the breath of spruce and pine was invigorating. But +there was a little nervous feeling about Cynthia. +Cousin Giles was somewhat of a lady's man, and he +was on the continual lookout that Cynthia should not +tire herself unduly, that she be assisted over the rough +places, that she should have the best of everything. +He was almost jealous at times.</p> + +<p>But Cynthia moved about gayly, serenely, full of +merry little quips, seizing the small ridiculous events +with such a sense of amusement that she inspirited +them all. And he could not notice that she paid any +more attention to Anthony than either of her seniors.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +There was such a genuine frankness in all she said +and did, a charm of manner that was just herself, and +had none of the arts of society, but came from a heart +that overflowed with spontaneous warmth, but was not +directed to any particular person.</p> + +<p>Cousin Giles declared he was sorry to get back to +Boston. He could not remember when he had enjoyed +such a good time. Then in a business way it had been +a success, which added to his satisfaction.</p> + +<p>They really had to stay in Boston one night. They +would fain have kept Cynthia for a week, but she said +she was tired of just changing from one frock to +another, and longed for more variety.</p> + +<p>"And I'm so glad to get back home again," she cried +delightedly. "I've had a splendid time, and I like +Anthony ever so much. Cousin Giles was so nice +and fatherly. He ought to adopt Anthony and give +him his name, and that would always make me think +of father. But after all, home is best. Oh, suppose I +was a waif, just being handed from one to another!"</p> + +<p>She looked frightened with the imaginary lot. She +expressed emotions so easily.</p> + +<p>"You couldn't have been;" hoarsely.</p> + +<p>"Cousin Chilian, if you had not been in the world, +or if you hadn't been willing to take me—I don't +think father knew much about Cousin Giles—why, I +must have gone to strangers."</p> + +<p>There were tears in her eyes, and a sweet melancholy +in her voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span></p> + +<p>She had so much to tell Cousin Eunice that it +seemed really as if she had taken the journey with +them. She put on Jane's faded gingham sunbonnet +and gave her voice a queer nasal twang, and talked as +some of the women did up there in the wilderness, who +thought a city "must be an awfully crowdy place an' +she jes' didn't see how people managed to live in it. +An' as fer the sea, give her dry land every time."</p> + +<p>Then she talked the French-English patois of the +emigrants from Canada, and told of their funny attire, +and their log huts, sometimes with only one big room, +with a stone chimney in the centre, and sawed logs +for seats.</p> + +<p>"They did that in Salem nigh on to two hundred +years ago," said Cousin Eunice.</p> + +<p>"How much people do learn by living," remarked +the little girl sagely.</p> + +<p>Then the olden round began. Being asked out to +tea and inviting in return, sewing bees, quilting parties +when some girl was making an outfit. And though +the elders shook their heads at such a waste of time, +they went out to walk in the afternoon and stopped +in the shops that were making a show on Essex Street +and Federal Street. There was Miss Rust's pretty +millinery parlor—it had a sofa in the front room and +a table with an embroidered cover that Cynthia had +sent her. They talked of new styles and colors, and +were aghast at the thought that royalty sometimes had +as many as twenty hats and bonnets. She made pretty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +old lady caps as well, and she did love to hear the +young girls chatter. And Molly Saunders was still +baking gingerbread, that had delighted them as school +children, and no one made such good spruce and sassafras +beer.</p> + +<p>One evening at a dance she had a great surprise. +Some one said, "Miss Cynthia Leverett, Mr. +Marsh."</p> + +<p>A rather tall, ruddy, good-looking fellow, with laughing +eyes and an unmistakable sailor air, held her dainty +hand and studied her face.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you don't know me!" in the jolliest of tones. +"And I should know you if you had been cast ashore +on a rocky island and I were looking at you through +a spyglass. You haven't changed in the main, only to +grow prettier. You were a poor pale little thing +then."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I can't think!" She flushed and smiled. +Something in the hearty voice won her.</p> + +<p>"At Dame Wilby's school. And the bad boy who +sat behind you—Tommy Marsh."</p> + +<p>"Oh! oh! And that day I sat on the floor!" She +laughed gayly. She did not mind it a bit now.</p> + +<p>"Wasn't it funny? And the way you just sat still +with the school in an uproar. You standing up there +and 'sassing' back the old dame! Such a mite of a +thing, too. My! but you were a plucky one!" in admiration. +"And you never came to school after that. +I ought to get down on my knees and beg your pardon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +for the sly pinches I gave you, and the times I +tweaked your curly hair. I've half a mind to do it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" and she made a funny gesture of alarm, +and both laughed.</p> + +<p>"And I've been over there to India, where you came +from, and found some people who knew your father. +I've been to sea seven years, three on this last cruise, +and when the <i>Vixen</i> is repaired and refitted I'm going +out again as first mate. One of these days I shall be a +captain."</p> + +<p>How proud and strong he looked. Why, one +couldn't help liking him.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if I might dance with you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, do you dance? I thought sailors—and there +are no girls——" and she blushed at her incoherence.</p> + +<p>"I think we do a little. Where did you get the +Sailor's Hornpipe from? We're sorry about not having +girls, but we make it answer. And when you get +in the doldrums, or becalmed, it stirs up your blood. +Oh, they are taking their places."</p> + +<p>Ben was in the same quadrille. Every time he +touched her hand he gave it a pressure that made her +cheeks rosier. Altogether it was a delightful evening.</p> + +<p>Cousin Chilian came for her. He had found she +preferred it.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Cousin Chilian, I've had such a funny adventure. +Perhaps you can recall the little boy I really +hated that week I went to the dame's school. Well, +he is a nice big fellow now, and we had a talk, and he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> +has been to Calcutta and seen people who knew father. +I want him to come so we can have a good long talk, +and won't you ask him? You'll like him, I know. I'll +find him and bring him to you, and you can ask him to +come while I'm putting on my things."</p> + +<p>She hunted him up and he was very pleased to meet +Mr. Leverett. She gave them quite a while, for she +was chatting with the girls about some weddings on +the tapis.</p> + +<p>She gave Mr. Marsh her hand and a smile that +would have set almost any masculine heart beating. +It must have been born with her, though it was pitifully +appealing in the childhood days. Now the true, +sweet nature shone through it, lending it a fascinating +radiance.</p> + +<p>Mr. Leverett said he should be glad to have him call +while he was in port, and the young man thanked him +and said he should give himself the pleasure.</p> + +<p>"And when he does come," said the little lady in +her half-coaxing, half-imperious way, "can't we have +him up in the study? You see, it does very well for +half a dozen of us to be down in the parlor, but it gets +kind of stiff and not cheerful with just one. And +you'll like to talk to him."</p> + +<p>He assented readily. Ben always came up in the +study, though now he would rather have been alone +with Cynthia. There were some things he meant to +say, if he ever had a chance, in spite of youth and +guardianship.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Marsh did not lose much time considering. The +very next week he called.</p> + +<p>They found him a nice, agreeable, well-informed +young man, a true sailor lad, and like many a Yankee +boy, he kept adding to his stock of knowledge where-ever +he went. He had drawn some useful charts of +seaports and islands he knew about, their products and +climates, and really his descriptions were as good as a +geography.</p> + +<p>"There's no doubt Salem has the lead in the foreign +trade, but we're going to be pushed hard the next +few years. Other cities have found out the profit in it. +But we've some of the best captains, and that's what I +mean to be myself."</p> + +<p>At Calcutta they still held a warm remembrance of +Captain Anthony Leverett. And Marsh thought it +quite a wonderful thing that the little girl had gone +back and forth and braved all the perils. He told them +of a pirate ship they had once battled with and the rich +stores they had taken from her. The prisoners had +been left on an island.</p> + +<p>"But—how would they get to their homes?" she +asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that wasn't our lookout. They'd have done +the same thing to us if they could, maybe worse. Occasionally +vessels are wrecked, and sometimes it is +months before a ship goes that way and sees their +signal."</p> + +<p>Yes, she was glad nothing of the kind had happened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +to her. And Chilian, watching the little shiver, gave +thanks also.</p> + +<p>Thomas Marsh enjoyed these evenings wonderfully. +He was always glancing at Cynthia to see if what he +said met with her approval. It seemed so strangely +sweet to be thrilled at the tones of her voice and the +touch of her hand. And when she looked up and +smiled, the blood surged to his brain. He was quite a +favorite with the girls, but no other one had that power +over him.</p> + +<p>Of course, they met here and there at the different +companies—he never went unless she was sure to be +there, and if he asked she answered frankly. Cousin +Chilian took her down to see the <i>Vixen</i>, which was +nearly ready for her new cruise. He was very proud +of her, so was Captain Langfelt, and they had some tea +in the cabin. But some sudden knowledge came to +Chilian Leverett, and he was sincerely glad the young +man was going away.</p> + +<p>The evening Thomas Marsh came in to say good-bye, +she was alone.</p> + +<p>"You'll find Miss Cynthia up in the study," said +Jane, and thither he went two steps at a time. She +had on a soft gown, and he thought she looked like +some lovely flower as she rose to greet him.</p> + +<p>"I believe we are to sail to-morrow. Stores and +cargo are all in, and now the captain is in haste to be +off. Come down about eleven in the morning and wish +me God-speed, a safe journey, and a happy return."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes. We were talking of it to-day. Oh, I hope +you will have all, though a great many things happen +in three years." Neither of them, indeed no one, could +have predicted what was to happen in those eventful +three years.</p> + +<p>They discussed the pleasant times, the girls and boys +who had grown up and married during the whole seven +years of his absence. Oh, how sweet and pretty she +was! He envied the boys like Bentley Upham and two +or three others who had business at home—but no, he +never could have been anything but a sailor.</p> + +<p>Then he rose to go. He stood holding her hand and +the red and white kept flitting over her face, her eyes +were so soft and dark. They would haunt him many a +night on the deck.</p> + +<p>"It's best that I am going so soon," he began in a +rather tremulous voice. "Do you remember what +your uncle was reading the other day about the man +who wanted to be lashed to the mast when they passed +the Syrens? It would be that way with me if I staid +much longer. I—I wouldn't be able to help loving +you, and I doubt whether it would be a good thing for +either of us. I've tried all along to keep it to a plain, +honest like, but I know now it is more than that. I +shall take away with me the remembrance of the sweetest +girl in all the world, and I have no right to spoil her +life. But sometimes maybe you'll think of a far-away +lad, who sends you his love and the best wishes for +your happiness with the man you will love best of all."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then he pressed her hand to his lips and went slowly +down the stairs. She heard the door shut. And, foolish +girl, she sat down and cried, and there Cousin Chilian +found her, and had to listen and absolve.</p> + +<p>"No," he said, "it would not do for you to have a +sailor lad. Your tender heart would break with the +anxiety. He's a nice, upright fellow, and he will never +shirk a duty. But you——" What should he say to +her?</p> + +<p>"I want to stay here. Oh, I wonder if you will like +me when I get as old as Cousin Eunice, and the world +will change and improve and I shall be queer and old-fashioned?"</p> + +<p>He held her in his arms, but he was shocked to find +what was in his own heart.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>PERILOUS PATHS</h3> + + +<p>Avis Manning's "Company" was one of the events +of the season. She was a full-fledged young lady, and +knowing she could have her choice of the young men +of Salem, was rather difficult to capture. She and her +brother-in-law were very good friends, but not lovers. +And Laura, who knew where his fancy lay, counselled +him to go slowly, though she was quite sure he would +win in the end.</p> + +<p>"You see, she is like a child to Mr. Chilian Leverett, +and he is loath to part with her. But all girls do marry +sooner or later, and he isn't selfish enough to want her +to stay single. If he was not so much older he might +marry her—they are not own cousins, you know."</p> + +<p>"He marry her! Why, he's getting to be quite an +old man," and there was a touch of disdain in his tone. +"But there's half a dozen others——"</p> + +<p>"It's queer, but she isn't a flirt. She's one of the +sweetest of girls—she was, at school. And with her +fortune she might hold herself high. They say the +Boston trustee has doubled some of it that he invested."</p> + +<p>"I wish she hadn't a cent!" the young man flung +out angrily.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, money is not to be despised. She'll get a +little tired by and by, and long for a home and children +of her own, as we all do. And if you haven't found +any one else——"</p> + +<p>"I never shall find any one like her;" gloomily.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there are a great many nice girls in the world."</p> + +<p>Avis knew all the best people in Salem, it was not +so large, after all. And they came to the beautiful +house and made merry, played "guessing words"—what +we call charades, quite a new thing then—and it +made no end of merriment. Of course, Cynthia was in +them, was arch and piquant, and delighted the audience. +Then they had supper and more dancing. One +of the Turner boys, Archibald, hovered about Cynthia +like a shadow. There was Ben Upham, but Edward +Saltonstall warded them off to her satisfaction. But +Bella Turner was shortly to be married, and Archie +would have her for that evening surely.</p> + +<p>She and Mr. Saltonstall were very good friends. +He was a little older than the others, and grown wary +by experience. But it was queer that half a dozen girls +were pulling straws for him and here was one who did +not care, would not raise a finger, but, oh, how sweet +her smiles were.</p> + +<p>"If you are a bridesmaid the third time, you will +never be a bride," said some of the wiseacres.</p> + +<p>Cynthia tossed her proud, dainty head and laughed +over it to Cousin Chilian. He looked a little grave.</p> + +<p>"Would you mind if I were an old maid? I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +wouldn't really be <i>old</i> in a long while, you know. And +you will always want some one. If anything should +happen to Cousin Eunice, how lonely you would +be."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you went away."</p> + +<p>"I don't care for any of them very much. I like Mr. +Saltonstall the best. He isn't quite so young, so—so +sort of impetuous. And the boys get jealous."</p> + +<p>Then it was likely to be Mr. Saltonstall, after all! +Was he going to be narrow and mean enough to keep +her out of what was best in a woman's life? But he +looked down the dreary years without her. He could +not attach himself to the world of business as Cousin +Giles did. Some of these young fellows might come +into a sort of sonship with him—there was Anthony +Drayton.</p> + +<p>Why was it his soul protested against them? He +did not understand the deep underlying dissent that +made a cruel discordance in his desire for her happiness.</p> + +<p>Mr. Saltonstall walked home from church with her +and Miss Winn. And he came in one evening to ask +some advice. He had cudgelled his brain for days to +find just the right subject. That ended, they had a talk +about chess—that was becoming quite an interest in +some circles. There were several moves that puzzled +him.</p> + +<p>"Come in some evening and talk them over," said +Mr. Leverett.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span></p> + +<p>Edward Saltonstall wondered at the favor of the +gods and accepted. Not as if he was in any vulgar +hurry, but he dropped in, politely social, and asked if +he should disturb them. Chilian had been reading +Southey's "Thalaba."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. We often read in the evening," said +Cynthia.</p> + +<p>She was netting a bead bag, an industry all the +rage then among the women. They really were prettier +than the samplers. But she rose and brought the +box of chessmen, while he rolled the table from its +corner.</p> + +<p>"Will I disturb you if I stay?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Not unless it interferes with Mr. Saltonstall's attention," +said Chilian, then bit his lip.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I do not think it will;" smilingly.</p> + +<p>"You are very good to bother with a tyro. I'd like +to be able to play a good game. Father is so fond of it, +and Lynde seldom comes in nowadays—family cares;" +laughingly.</p> + +<p>They led off very well. Saltonstall was wise enough +to try his best, though out of one eye he watched the +dainty fingers threading in and out among the colored +beads, and could not help thinking he would rather be +holding them and pressing kisses on the soft white +hand. Then he made a wrong play.</p> + +<p>"We may as well turn back," said Mr. Leverett, +"since the question at stake is not winning, but improving."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are very good," returned the young man +meekly.</p> + +<p>This time they went on a little further, but the result +was the same. So with the third game.</p> + +<p>"Of course, I could let you win," Mr. Leverett began, +"but that wouldn't conduce to the real science of +the game which a good player desires. But you do +very well for a young man. I should keep on, if I +were you."</p> + +<p>"And annoy you with my shortcomings?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it will not be annoyance, truly. Come in when +you feel like it."</p> + +<p>"Thank you." Then he said good-night in a +friendly, gentlemanly manner, and Cynthia rose and +bowed.</p> + +<p>After that she gathered up her work and said good-night. +Chilian sat and thought. Edward Saltonstall +was a nice, steady young fellow; that is, he neither +gamed, nor drank, nor went roystering round in the +taverns jollying with the sailors, as some of the sons +of really good families did. He would not have all his +fortune to make, and his father's business was well established. +The sons would take it. The two daughters +were well married. What more could he ask for Cynthia? +She was not so young now and would know her +own mind.</p> + +<p>Yet it gave his heart a sharp, mysterious wrench, a +longing for what he was putting away, the essence of +the solemn ideals of love that run through the intri<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span>cate +meshes of the human soul. He knew that he loved +her, that he wanted her for his very own, and his conscience +told him it was not right. Of all her admirers +he liked this one the best. Under other circumstances +he would have considered him an admirable young +man.</p> + +<p>Saltonstall dropped in now and then, not too often. +He did not mean to startle any one with his purpose, +but to let it grow gradually. Still, at the last assembly +of the season, his attentions were somewhat pronounced. +It was partly her doings, she was sheltering +herself from other rather warm indications.</p> + +<p>A few days later she went over to Polly Loring's +with her work. Polly's bag had somehow gone wrong. +Cynthia had to cut the thread and ravel out a round. +The baby was to be admired as well as the chair seat +Polly had begun in worsted work, which was the new +accomplishment. And they talked over various matters: +who had new gowns, new lovers, and new babies. +But every time she came almost to the subject so near +her heart, Cynthia made an elusive detour. Then she +ventured out straight with her question.</p> + +<p>"Cynthia, are you going to take Ed Saltonstall?"</p> + +<p>Cynthia's face was scarlet.</p> + +<p>"He hasn't asked me, he hasn't even asked Cousin +Chilian," but her voice was not quite steady.</p> + +<p>"How do you know? It was talked of at the assembly—the +two men were a good deal together. And +if you don't mean anything, Cynthia, you'll get your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span>self +gossiped about, and you'll spoil some lives," declared +Polly spiritedly. This thing had been seething +in her mind, and she was going to have it out at the +risk of breaking friendship.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to spoil any one's life. And I've +never really kept company with any one."</p> + +<p>The keeping company was the great test. When +the young man came steady one night in the week, to +Sunday tea, and went to church with the girl alone, +the matter was as good as declared.</p> + +<p>"But—well, I don't know how you've done it, but +they hang about you and it does upset them. First it's +one, then it's another. You ought to know. You +ought to settle upon one and let the others alone."</p> + +<p>Polly had acquired a good deal of married wisdom, +and she really did love Cynthia. Ben loved her, too.</p> + +<p>"But suppose I didn't want any of them?" and Cynthia +tried to laugh, but it was a poor shadowy attempt.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nonsense! You don't mean to be an old maid. +No girl does. But it is time you stopped playing fast +and loose with hearts. Now there's Ben. You know +he's loved you this long while. And we all like you so. +Last fall he quite gave up and went to see Jenny Willing. +She'll make a good wife and she's a nice girl, +though she hasn't your fortune. Mother's been trying +to make him believe that you are looking higher."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Polly—I never scarcely think of my fortune," +Cynthia interrupted, her face full of distressful color.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm not saying that you do. Ben's getting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +along first-rate. He has a college degree and father +isn't poor. I know several girls who would jump at +a chance for him. Of course, we would <i>all</i> rather have +you. Then at Avis Manning's party you gave him the +sweetest of your smiles, and lured him back."</p> + +<p>Oh, she recalled it with a kind of shame. It was to +keep off Archie Turner and Mr. Saltonstall. And then +for a while he had grown troublesome. If they could +be merely friends!</p> + +<p>"The thing is just here, Cynthia. I know I'm speaking +plainly and you may get angry. If you don't want +Ben, let him alone. A young man begins to think of a +home and a wife of his own, and when he likes a girl +very much—yes, I will say it, she can make or mar. +She can take him away from some other nice girl. +And people now are beginning to say you are a flirt. +I think Jenny will make Ben a nice wife, and if you +don't want him——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Polly, I don't want any of them. You can't +think how delightful life is with Cousin Chilian. I +couldn't be as happy anywhere else, or with any other +person. I can't make myself fall in love as all of you +girls have, and think this one or that one perfect. +Something must be wrong with me. And I'm very +sorry. I'm not a bit jealous when they take to other +girls. Why, I'd be glad to be Jenny's bridesmaid if she +wanted me to."</p> + +<p>Cynthia paused and mopped the tears from her +cheeks. Polly was a little subdued. Cynthia was tak<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span>ing +this so meekly. But she said rather spitefully, +"You had better marry Mr. Leverett."</p> + +<p>Ah, Polly, it was a dangerous seed to fling at a +young girl. And it dropped on a bit of out of the way +fruitful soil.</p> + +<p>Cynthia rose quietly. She was very pale. She began +to roll up her work.</p> + +<p>"Now I think you can go on with it," she said. "If +you get in trouble again, let me know."</p> + +<p>Then the two friends looked at each other until the +tears came into their eyes.</p> + +<p>"I'm very sorry," murmured Cynthia in a broken +voice.</p> + +<p>"But you see——"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I understand. I hope Ben will be very +happy."</p> + +<p>Afterward Polly sat down and cried. She knew Ben +loved Cynthia so. They had counted on having her in +the family. But she felt quite certain now that Ed +Saltonstall would get her. And he was a flirt, going +with every pretty girl, every new girl for a little +while.</p> + +<p>Cynthia went home in a very sober mood. Why had +they all cared so much about her? They had nice attractive +qualities, but why could they not look at her +just as she looked at them! She did not know very +much about men and that with them pursuit often +merged into the strong desire for possession, which +she did not understand. But she did not want to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> +blamed. She would have none of them. Cousin Chilian +was more to her. If he seldom danced and was +never very gay, there were so many other requirements +to life; there was something in his nature to +which hers responded readily.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly she seemed to have lost the clue. +She experienced a season of bewilderment. Was +Cousin Chilian meaning she should take Mr. Saltonstall +for a lover? He surely gave him opportunities +he had given no other. Sometimes he excused himself +and went out. There were some difficulties with +the mother country that men were discussing. She +really felt a little awkward at being left alone with +Mr. Saltonstall. Not only that, but it awoke a strange +terror in her soul that he should come so near; it was +as if her whole being rose in arms.</p> + +<p>Occasionally Chilian spoke of her marriage—he had +always said she was too young, in a protesting manner. +So on one occasion she gained courage.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean—that is—you would like to—have +me married, Cousin Chilian?"</p> + +<p>Married! It was as if she had given him a stab. +And yet was not that just the thing he had been thinking +of?</p> + +<p>"Why, you see, Cynthia," he made his voice purposely +cold, "I am much older than you. I may die +some day. Cousin Eunice will no doubt go before me, +and you would not like to go on alone. Then Giles +is older even than I. One has to think of these things.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> +Yes, it would be nice to know you were happily settled."</p> + +<p>"And why couldn't a woman live alone as well as a +man? I could have Miss Winn, and a housekeeper, +and a man——"</p> + +<p>"It's a lonely life for a woman."</p> + +<p>"But why not for a man?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, that is different. Only a few men do. +And they grow queer and opinionated."</p> + +<p>A fortnight ago she would have protested and said, +"You are not old, you are not opinionated," in her +eager, girlish manner. Now she was hurt, and she +could not tell why; so she kept silent.</p> + +<p>And she began to note a change in him. The delightful +harmony in which they had lived fell below the +major key into minors, that touched and pierced her. +He did not come so often to listen to her music, to ask +her for a song, to watch while she painted some pretty +flower, to go around with her training roses, or cutting +them for the house. She put a few of them everywhere; +she did not like great bunches, only such things +as grew in clusters, lilacs and syringas and long sprays +of clematis. She missed the little walks around, and +the dear talks they used to have.</p> + +<p>She felt somewhat deceitful in planning adroitly. +She made Miss Winn go to church with her, and when +they came home with Mr. Saltonstall they sat on the +porch together. A girl thinking of a lover would have +asked him in. Then she went down to Boston, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> +Anthony came over as often as he could. Surely there +was no danger with him.</p> + +<p>All this time Chilian Leverett was having a hard +fight with himself. He was really ashamed of having +been conquered by what he called a boy's romantic passion. +He could excuse himself for the early lapse; he +was a boy then. His honor and what he called good +sense were mightily at war with this desire that well-nigh +overmastered him. True, men older than he had +married young wives. But this child had been entrusted +to him in a sacred fashion by her dying father; +he must place before her the best and richest of life, +even if it condemned him to after-years of joyless +solitude.</p> + +<p>For it was not as a father he loved her, though he +had played a little at fatherhood in the beginning. She +was so companionable, they had so many similar tastes. +He was so fond of reading to an appreciative listener, +and even as he sat in the darkness, when she did not +know he was alone in the study, he could see her +lovely eyes raised in their tender light. He thought +this her unusual wisdom and discernment, never +dreaming it had been mostly his training and her receptiveness. +And to think of the house without her! +Why, going out of it in her wedding gown would be +almost as if she had been laid in her shroud and shut +away. Of course, he could not have her here and see +her love another.</p> + +<p>Giles Leverett's dream was much happier. In his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +mind he saved her for his favorite. When Anthony +was through—and he was putting in law, with the +classics—he would take him in his office, where he +would find much business made to his hand. The +house was big enough for them all, and he had grown +curiously interested in young people. Anthony was +very fond of his sweet, fascinating cousin—they all +were. He did not know whether there was any one in +Salem quite good enough for her. Saltonstall was a +rather trifling fellow, whose fancies were evanescent.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Ed Saltonstall had a good friend in Mrs. +Stevens, and she counselled him not to be too ardent +in his pursuit. She said pleasant little things about +him without any effusiveness. She considered his +friendship with her very charming—young men were +not generally devoted to middle-aged women. Once +she shrewdly wondered why he had not made some +errand down.</p> + +<p>Altogether it was a pleasant visit, though Cynthia +kept revolving her duty, if such there was in the case. +A blind, mysterious asking for something haunted her, +something it would be sad to miss out of her life.</p> + +<p>Then she came home alone in the stage. There was +a property dispute going on, where Mr. Leverett was +an important witness for a friend. When the stage +stopped, Rachel and Jane both ran out and gave her a +joyful welcome.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Cousin Eunice, "we are +so glad to get you back. You are the light <i>of</i> the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> +house, isn't she?" glancing at the other. "Even Chilian +has been mopey, though I think he isn't well. He +is getting thin, too, and goodness knows he had no +flesh to lose. Oh, my dear, I hope you will never go +away again while I live;" and she gave a long sigh as +the girl left the room.</p> + +<p>She came down presently in a cheerful light frock +and began to tell Cousin Eunice and Jane what she +had seen and heard. She was in the full tide of this, +eager, bright, and flushing when Chilian entered. He +greeted her rather languidly. Yes, he had grown +thinner, and Cousin Giles was putting on too much +flesh and growing jollier. Chilian did not look well +and an ache went all over Cynthia's body, every nerve +being sympathetic. He was not silent, however; he +asked questions, but she thought he was hardly paying +attention to the answers. He remained down in the +sitting-room and read his <i>Gazette</i>, now and then making +some comment, or answering some query of +Cousin Eunice. It was not nine yet when he rose and +said, "He was very tired; if they would excuse him, +he would go to bed."</p> + +<p>They all went presently. She was glad to be alone +in the room, glad there was no moon, and she turned +her face over on the pillow and cried softly. After +all, life was a riddle—two ways and not knowing +which to take, both having a curiously lonely ending. +Could she not bear it better alone? If he should go +away as her father had done, if she should stay here<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> +in the old house, and then Cousin Eunice would fold +her hands in that silent clasp, Rachel would slip into +old womanhood, Jane would marry, she was keeping +company now. There would be other Janes and +she——</p> + +<p>On the other hand would be love, marriage, children +maybe, a pleasant home. Living along side by side, +as other people did.</p> + +<p>She did not try to shut out either vision. Which +should she take? Was life just for one's self?</p> + +<p>She was not morbid. It was only in religion that +people took out their very souls and examined them +for lurking sins; the days' duties were what must be +accomplished, whether or no. She knew she was not +very religious, the deep things seemed beyond her +grasp. And there was a certain joyousness in her love +for sunshine, flowers, people, and all the attractive +things of life. She was deeply grateful, she raised +her heart in thankfulness to God for every good +gift. And now she took up the daily duties cheerfully. +It was not their fault the shadow had fallen +over them.</p> + +<p>Some days afterward she was rambling around +aimlessly, when she met a girl friend, and they chatted +about various matters.</p> + +<p>"Oh," exclaimed the friend, "there'll be another +wedding in the autumn, and Betty Upham is keeping +steady company. I used to have an idea that you and +Ben would make a match——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's Jenny Willing," she interrupted. "And I am +heartily glad."</p> + +<p>"You were all such friends;" looking puzzled.</p> + +<p>"And I hope we will go on being friends. I have +always liked Jenny."</p> + +<p>"She was awfully afraid you'd cut her out. You +know he did fancy you first. I think she would have +been very unhappy if she had missed him. I don't see +what there is about you, Cynthia;" studying her intently. +"You are pretty, but there are some handsome +girls in Salem. And they run after Ed Saltonstall +as if there was no other man in town. And my +advice to you is to seize on him, for I think your +chance best. He's an awful flirt, though. I think +good-looking men always are."</p> + +<p>Cynthia flushed. Why should these things be profaned +by foolish gossip.</p> + +<p>Polly came over one afternoon. She had accomplished +the bag and was proud enough of it. And she +announced Bentley's engagement.</p> + +<p>"They will be married in the early fall; they are +not going to build, but have part of that double house +of Nelsons'. She'll make a fine, economical wife, and +that is what men need who are trying to get along. +Assemblies and all that are not the thing for prudent +married people."</p> + +<p>"And one gets tired of them." She had a feeling +just then that she should never want to dance any +more.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span></p> + +<p>Cynthia was glad to have him settled, glad Jenny +Willing had the man she loved.</p> + +<p>And the last time he had come back to her she had +held up her finger to him thoughtlessly, to shield herself +from some other pointed attentions. It had been +a mean thing to do. But she had only meant it for +that evening, and he had gone on importunately. +She was ashamed of it now. Yes, she had better +marry; then no one would be pleading for favors, mistaking +a simple smile for deeper meaning. Was her +smile different from that of other girls?</p> + +<p>She watched Cousin Chilian narrowly. Was the +old dear freedom between them gone? He seemed +rather abstracted. He did not call her into the study, +he went out oftener of an evening. Mr. Saltonstall +would pass by, then turn and walk up the path and +sit down on the step. This would occur several times +a week. He asked her to ride with him, but she shrank +from that. She went over one evening on special invitation, +when Chilian was to play chess with the +father. Mrs. Saltonstall took her in quite as if she +was one of the family, and really was very sweet to +her. And the old gentleman was fatherly.</p> + +<p>That seemed to settle it for her, rather the fact that +sank deeper in her mind every day that Cousin Chilian +wished her to marry and that this young man was +his preference. She allowed him to come a little +nearer, to hold her hand, to take nameless small freedoms, +and he was always delicate.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span></p> + +<p>Would he be satisfied without all she could not help +withholding? Would it be right to give him a half +love? But then how could she help loving Cousin +Chilian, who had been so tender to her in childhood? +She would be gladly content to stay without any nearer +tie between them; of course, that other could not be +thought of.</p> + +<p>One night Mr. Saltonstall asked her in a manly +fashion. And suddenly a great white light shot up in +her heart, and loving one man she knew she had no +right to deceive another, to live a deception all her life +long, to cheat him—yes, it was that. Better a hundred +times to live out her flawed life alone.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I cannot," she murmured. "I—I"—she +choked down the strangling sob.</p> + +<p>"My little darling, give me the opportunity to teach +you what love really is. You do not know."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>THE FLOWERING OF THE SOUL</h3> + + +<p>Cynthia had said coldly that she did not wish to +marry at present, perhaps never. "I have been trying +to love you to—to please some one else, and it is a +compliment for you to ask me. But any woman ought +to be sure before she makes a life-long promise. I +must be honest—with you, with myself."</p> + +<p>Something in the solemn tone awed him. He had +not been looking at the serious side of love. She was +pretty, bright, and winsome, with a good deal of Puritan +simplicity, a great power of enjoyment and difficult +to win. He liked to do the winning himself. He +liked to find some new qualities in girls, and Cynthia, +with all her daintiness, had many sides that surprised +one. She had been brought up by a man—that made +the difference.</p> + +<p>"We will wait a little," he said. "Talk to your +cousin about it. I think it will all come right. You +are the first woman I ever desired to marry, and I +have been fond of girls, too."</p> + +<p>That would have flattered some women. She said +good-night in a strained, breathless tone, and vanished<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> +through the door. He sat and thought. There was +no other lover, he was quite sure.</p> + +<p>She went to bed at once. She did not cry, she was +somehow stunned at this revelation about herself, for +she had resolved to accept him and this sudden protest +told her that it was quite impossible. If Cousin Chilian +was disappointed, if he was tired of her, there was +a warm welcome in Boston.</p> + +<p>She did not sleep much. Rachel noted her heavy +eyes, and the expression as if she might be secretly +upbraiding fate. What if Mr. Saltonstall had been +trifling?</p> + +<p>Chilian went up to his study. He felt languid, he +nearly always did now. He took a book and sat by +the open window. Two tall trees hid the prospect, +except a space of blooming garden. To-day a small +outlook pleased him, for his life was to be made narrower. +She would come and tell him—shut the +golden gate forever. He could not, would not, enter +their paradise. Let him keep quite on the outside.</p> + +<p>She came in a soft, white gown that clung to her +virginal figure. The swelling-out period had passed, +even sleeves had collapsed to a small puff, and for +house wear the arms and neck were left bare.</p> + +<p>The book was a Greek play. The letters danced before +her eyes as she stood there. He looked off the +book, but not up at her.</p> + +<p>"Cousin Chilian, I want to tell you"—her voice +had the peculiar softness that one uses to try to cover<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> +the hurt one cannot help giving—"Mr. Saltonstall +was here last evening. He has asked me to marry +him."</p> + +<p>It seemed to her the silence lasted moments. Then +he said in an incurious tone, "Well?"</p> + +<p>"I—will you be angry or disappointed when I confess +that I cannot, that I do not love him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Cynthia, child; what do you know about +love?" he said impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Enough to know that it would be wrong to take +a man's love and give him nothing in return." Now +her voice was steady, convincing.</p> + +<p>He had a sudden thought. Like a vision the stalwart +form of the young sailor rose before him. He +had carried admiration, yes, love in his eyes. What +if he had carried more than that away?</p> + +<p>"Cynthia, is there some one else, some one you +<i>could</i> love——"</p> + +<p>"There is some one else." Her tone was very +low, but brave. That admission would settle the +matter.</p> + +<p>"Are you to wait three years for him?"</p> + +<p>"For whom?" in surprise.</p> + +<p>Then he glanced up. Her face, that had been lily-white, +was flushed from brow to neck. What was +there in the beautiful, entreating eyes?</p> + +<p>"Cynthia?" All his firmness gave way.</p> + +<p>His arm stole softly around her, drew her a trifle +down. "Tell me! Tell me!" he cried, yet he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> +no idea he was asking her to lay her heart bare. There +was still the boy Anthony.</p> + +<p>"Cousin Chilian, if a woman loved very much, +would it be a shame to her if, unasked, she——"</p> + +<p>Her head sank down on his shoulder. He felt the +warm, throbbing breath on his cheek. He drew her +closer. Did the slim, palpitating body betray its +secret?</p> + +<p>"Oh, Cynthia, child, the most precious thing in all +the world to me, tell me that I will not have to give +you to another, that I may keep you to myself. For I +cannot comprehend how so great a joy could come to +me. And whether I would have the right to take your +sweet young life, that should be replete with the joys +of youth, with the gladness that is its proper birthright."</p> + +<p>"If I gave it to you? If I could never have given +it to any other?"</p> + +<p>He drew her down closer, and the gentle yielding, +the sort of rapturous sigh, answered him better than +any words. He pressed kisses on the unresisting lips, +kisses that then were sacred to affianced lovers and +husbands.</p> + +<p>Was it an hour or half a lifetime? He inclined her +to his knee as he had when she was a little girl, but at +length he came back to his senses.</p> + +<p>"Cynthia," he began with tender gravity, "there +are many points to consider. Do you know that I am +more than double your age——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't tell that to me. Isn't love as sweet?"</p> + +<p>Could he deny it in the face of that ravishing smile, +those appealing eyes.</p> + +<p>"Still—the world will think about it. And you are +a rich young woman, you could take your pick of +lovers——"</p> + +<p>"But they are all so troublesome," she interrupted. +"And one gets affronted with the other. And if I +picked very much I might be called a flirt, perhaps +I have been. I didn't want them, only to dance and +be merry with, and there are so many pretty girls in +the world—enough for all of them."</p> + +<p>He smiled a little and it gave her a heartache to see +how thin he had grown, and there were new creases +in his forehead that had been so fair and smooth.</p> + +<p>"And if some day you should repent?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to repent. Why should one when +one gets the thing one wanted?"</p> + +<p>There was a touch of the old brightness in her tone. +Had she really wanted him?</p> + +<p>"I've been very naughty with all these lovers, +haven't I? But no one came near enough to really ask +me that question until last night, though Mr. Marsh +thought he would if he were going to stay. And +Cousin Chilian, I had made up my mind truly, I +thought, for I liked Mr. Saltonstall very much, and it +seemed to me you wanted me to——" Her voice died +away in pathos.</p> + +<p>"I did. Oh, you must know the worst of me.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> +When I found you were growing into my very heart, +and I began to feel jealous of the young men, I took +myself in hand as a most reprehensible old fellow. +But I found you had entwined yourself in every fibre +of my heart, and it was hard indeed to uproot you."</p> + +<p>"And you really tried?" Her tone was upbraiding.</p> + +<p>"I tried like an honest, upright man. I shall never +be ashamed of the effort. I would not mar or spoil +your life. You see you might have loved some of these +brave young lads. You might have been very happy +with them."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you can't have but one husband;" in laughing +gayety.</p> + +<p>He flushed at her mischief.</p> + +<p>"I wonder when you began to love me? And what +has made you so cold and distant, as if you were +taking your affection away?"</p> + +<p>"I was—I was—Heaven forgive me! I was learning +to live without you; to go back to a life more solitary +than it was before you came. And, Cynthia, you +were not altogether a welcome guest. I did not know +what to do with a little girl. I was set in my ways. +I did not like to be disturbed. I could have sent a boy +off to school. And Elizabeth thought it a trouble, too. +You must read your father's letter and see the trust +he reposed in me. But you were such a strange, shy +little thing, and so delicate in all your ways. You +never touched an article without permission, you han<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span>dled +books so gently, you never made dog's-ears, or +crumpled a page. And that winter you were ill—and +the faith you had in his return. How many times my +heart ached for you. After that I could not have +given you up, and I fell into a sort of belief that it +would go on this always. When the lovers began +to come, I found I must awake from my delusion. +And then I knew that an oldish fellow could love a +sweet girl in her first bloom, but that it would be a +selfish, unpardonable thing."</p> + +<p>"Not if she loved him!" She raised her face in all +its sweet bravery of color.</p> + +<p>"But it was his duty to let her see what pleasure +there was in the world for youth; it was the promise to +her dead father, who had confided his treasure to him. +And even now he hesitates, lest you shall not have the +best of everything."</p> + +<p>"I shall have the best;" with winning confidence.</p> + +<p>"I loved your mother. I was a young lad, and she +some five years older. I suppose I was like a young +brother to her, because your father, her lover, had +been here so much. And somehow, you slipped into +the place where there never had been any other."</p> + +<p>"It must have been kept for me," she said gravely. +"And now I give you warning that I shall never go +out of it. No place could ever be so dear as this +house with all its memories. I am glad you knew and +loved my mother."</p> + +<p>It came noon before they were talked out, or before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> +they had settled only one point, about which she +would have her way. She wrote a pretty note to Mr. +Saltonstall, reiterating some things she had said the +evening before, and acknowledging that when she had +tried to accept him, she had found her heart was +another's, "and you are worthy of a woman's best +love," she added, which did comfort him.</p> + +<p>Still it puzzled him a good deal, but he finally settled +upon Anthony and thought it a rather foolish +choice. No doubt but that Giles Leverett was back +of it all.</p> + +<p>They told Cousin Eunice and Miss Winn. The +former cried for sheer joy. She seemed older than +her years, but she was well and bid fair to live years +yet.</p> + +<p>"Then you will never go away. I could not live +without you, and as for Chilian——"</p> + +<p>"It would only be half a life," returned the lover, +and he kissed Cousin Eunice.</p> + +<p>Miss Winn hardly knew whether to be pleased or +not. She liked Mr. Saltonstall very much for his +gayety, good humor, and fine presence, and then he +had the divine gift of youth to match hers. Would +she not tire of Chilian Leverett's grave life?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>THE PASSING OF OLD SALEM</h3> + + +<p>After all, they were foolish lovers. She did not hoard +up any sweetness. If he could not look forward to +so many years, she must give him a double portion. +That was her only regret about him, and she never +confessed that.</p> + +<p>He was surprised at himself. If she had loved +another, the wound of loneliness must have bled inwardly +until it sapped his life. Oh, how daintily +sweet she was! Every day he found some new trait.</p> + +<p>"You see," she explained to Miss Winn, "we shall +all keep together. Father trusted you to the uttermost, +and you have been nobly loyal. I couldn't do +without you. And no one could look so well after +Cousin Eunice, who will keep growing older."</p> + +<p>That was true enough. She was very well content +in her home, and at her time of life did not care to +try a new one. Cynthia was almost like a child to +her.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile matters had not gone prosperously with +old Salem, England had claimed her right of search, +against which the country strongly protested. The +British government issued orders, and the French<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> +Emperor decrees, forbidding ships of neutrals to enter +the ports, or engage in trade with their respective +enemies. This crippled the trade of Salem. Then +there had been the embargo, which for a while closed +the ports. But the town went on improving. Fortunes +had been made and now were being spent. But +much of the shipping lay idle. Yet the social life went +on, there was marrying and giving in marriage.</p> + +<p>Of course, there was some gossip about the Saltonstall +fiasco. No one, at least very few, supposed a sensible +girl would give up such an opportunity to settle +herself. Miss Cynthia would no doubt use her best +efforts to get him back. She seemed superbly indifferent +to the gossip.</p> + +<p>At first Chilian insisted upon an engagement of +some length, so that she might be sure of the wisdom +of the step. But she only laughed in her charming +fashion, and declared she would not give up the old +house, much more its owner.</p> + +<p>But they had a quiet wedding, with only the choicest +friends, and then they went to Boston to escape the +wonderings. Cousin Giles was really displeased.</p> + +<p>"It's an unfair thing for an old fellow like you to +do. And you had money enough of your own; +her fortune should have gone to help some nice +young fellow along. Why, really Cynthia has +hardly outgrown childhood. You might have been +her father!"</p> + +<p>"Hardly!" returned Chilian dryly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span></p> + +<p>On their return the house was opened and really +crowded with guests. Cynthia was in her most splendid +attire. Happiness had certainly improved Chilian +Leverett, he had gained some flesh and looked younger. +The most beautiful belongings had been brought out +to decorate the rooms.</p> + +<p>"For I am not going to have them stored away for +possible grandchildren," she declared gayly.</p> + +<p>And the guests had a charming welcome. The +younger girls were truly glad she had made her election, +and no one could deny that she was very much +in love with her husband. Neither had need to marry +for money, since both had fortunes. And they wished +her health and happiness with all their hearts.</p> + +<p>Jane had said to her, "Mis' Leverett, there's an old +adage:</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Change the name and not the letter"> +<tr><td align='left'>"'Change the name and not the letter,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">You marry for worse and not for better.'"</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>Cynthia laughed. "I'm not going to let signs or +omens trouble me. And I haven't even changed my +name, so the letter cannot count. And it is one of the +good old Salem names. It was my dear father's."</p> + +<p>One incident touched Cynthia deeply. Eunice took +her up in the garret one day and exhumed from a +chest the beautiful white quilt of Elizabeth's handiwork. +Pinned to one corner was a card, "For my +little Cynthia."</p> + +<p>"Only a few days before she had her stroke she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> +made me write this and go up and pin it on the quilt. +Maybe she'd had a warning, people do sometimes. I +supposed she'd leave it to Chilian. Oh, my dear, she'd +be so glad to have you go on in the old house if she +could know."</p> + +<p>Eunice wiped the tears from her eyes. Cynthia bent +over and kissed among the stitches the poor fingers +had toiled at day after day, sorry for the toil, glad for +the love that came at the last.</p> + +<p>The Leverett house opened its doors with a generous +hospitality. People, men at least, began to think +of something beside money-making, and some fine +plans were broached. Chilian Leverett seemed to +grow younger. Cynthia should not miss the joys of +youth out of her life. He did something more than +dance minuets, for her sake he essayed quadrilles. +The exquisite motion with her, her dainty hand in his, +or at times resting on his shoulder, filled him with an +all-pervading delight.</p> + +<p>"Chilian, do you realize that you are a really beautiful +dancer?" she said one evening after they had returned +from a small company.</p> + +<p>"Then I must have caught it from you. In my +youth dancing was considered frivolous."</p> + +<p>"And in India you hire the men and women to +dance for you, and follow the enchanting motions with +your eye. But it is so warm out there."</p> + +<p>She had been playing one evening when she started +up, exclaiming, "Let us try that new thing—the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span> +waltz. It is just made for two people very much in +love."</p> + +<p>"It is?" He smiled in the eager face. It was said +that she could twist him around her finger. "Why, +we have no music."</p> + +<p>"I can sing the measure, just la, la!" and she +started the melody. There were two long paths of +moonlight through the wide-open shutters. Moonlight +and sunshine were welcome visitors. She held +out her hands. Just that way she had charmed others, +and he yielded to the seductive influence. For, oh, +she was so young and sweet.</p> + +<p>It was a little awkward at first, but they soon found +the steps. It was rather slow and graceful, not the +mad whirl of later times. It <i>was</i> considered rather +reprehensible, but between husband and wife it was +right enough. They found it very fascinating.</p> + +<p>After a while a sort of grave, sweet seriousness +came over her. She liked to sit in the study and have +him read poetry to her while she sewed. She had +never loved sewing, but now she had taken a fancy +to it. Dainty little lacey things, with the softest of +muslins, treasures that had come from India. For +there were stacks of towels and sheets and useful articles, +so why should she bother about them?</p> + +<p>Jane was married and a middle-aged, homeless +widow was very glad to come. Miss Winn took the +head of the housekeeping, and Cousin Eunice was very +willing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then there came to them both a little son. Women +often dream of babies of their own, but men have so +many outside interests. There really were people at +that time who thought children a boon and blessing +of the Lord. Chilian Leverett was amazed, rendered +speechless with joy. His own little son, Cynthia's +little son, the life and love of both hearts. His cup of +joy and thankfulness ran over. For he had never +imagined there could be such perfect bliss. He +thought over the time when the little girl had come, +and he had not wanted her. Now she had brought him +life's choicest blessing.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile events ran on which were to thrill all +hearts and make stirring history. For war had been +declared.</p> + +<p>Handsome, pleasure-loving Edward Saltonstall volunteered +in the army. Perilous times there were on +the northern frontier, dreadful losses, few gains, until +suddenly the Lake battles changed the aspect and won +the splendid victories that thrilled every heart.</p> + +<p>But Salem's almost meteoric prosperity came to a +sudden halt, for there was war on the high seas as +well. The whole mercantile marine was refitted and +turned out to win what it might in other channels. +Privateering was held right enough in those days.</p> + +<p>There was the electrifying capture of the <i>Guerrière</i> +and her being towed into Boston with Captain Dacres +as a prisoner, and another to be quite as famous, that +of the <i>United States</i> and the <i>Macedonia</i>, where the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> +American loss seemed incredibly small. Other splendid +victories as well. But it was not until February, +1815, after nearly four years of struggle and war, that +peace was again declared with the Colonies as victorious. +America had won her right to the liberty of +the seas, as well as that of the land.</p> + +<p>But the supremacy of trade no longer could be +claimed for Salem. Other ports were built up, other +markets opened. Cities saw the advantage of foreign +trade. American products were shipped hither and +thither. No one city had the monopoly.</p> + +<p>But romances flourished all the same and were to +be handed down to other generations. There was the +old Forester house, with its legends, its lovely gardens, +and fine pictures. And the beautiful house of Elias +Hasket Derby, in which he had lived but such a short +time. No one felt rich enough then to undertake such +a costly establishment, and finally the estate came into +possession of the city, and the big area was named +Derby Square, and a commodious market built and a +Town Hall. When that was opened President Monroe +made a visit to Salem, and was enthusiastically received +there, citizens thronging to see him. The next +day Judge Story entertained him, and Mr. Stephen +White, of Washington Square, gave a ball in his +honor. The Leveretts were among the guests, and +Captain Edward Saltonstall, who had won promotions +by brave conduct under General Harrison, but was +now a private citizen and a fine-looking man, with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> +new bevy of girls as eager for his attentions as the +others were seven or eight years before.</p> + +<p>There was another guest who claimed, or at least +received, a good share of attention. This was the +naval Captain Marsh, who had been in the encounter +between the <i>Macedonia</i> and the frigate <i>United States</i>, +Captain Decatur, which was considered one of the +greatest of the naval battles. For his bravery then +and afterward, he had been promoted and was now a +captain in command of a fine vessel.</p> + +<p>Cynthia was delighted to see him; but she said he +must visit them to talk over matters and the wonders +that had happened to him. She would not dance any, +although she was in the grand march with her husband. +Mr. Saltonstall she saw quite frequently. His +parents were quite old people and he was devoted to +them.</p> + +<p>She wondered at times if any old fancy kept him +single. If so, she was sincerely sorry. For she had +been very, very happy with the husband of her love. +And in the household there were two merry, frolicking +boys, and a sweet little girl, with her mother's eyes.</p> + +<p>Captain Marsh did come and he was delighted with +his visit. The little boys climbed over him as if they +had known him always. He told the story of the terrific +battle at the Canaries, and many another battle +that had left him unscathed.</p> + +<p>"And I used to think if I came back to old Salem +and found you unmarried, it would go hard with me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> +if I could not win you," he said to Cynthia in his cordial, +manly fashion. "And I confess to you now if +Dame Wilby had struck you that day at school, I +should have rushed at her like a tiger. I like that +remembrance of you standing there so brave and +defying."</p> + +<p>They both laughed over it.</p> + +<p>She had changed very little. Chilian said she grew +younger with the birth of every baby. She was happy +and merry, truly the light of the house, and Cousin +Eunice was the happiest grandmother in all of Salem. +Miss Winn shared their joys—so far there had been +no sorrows.</p> + +<p>Chilian grew a little stouter with advancing years, +which really improved him. He took a warm interest +in the new projects. There was the Essex Historical +Society, gathering portraits and relics of the older +Salem, and the East India Marine Society was enlarging +its scope. The new Salem was to be curiously +intellectual, historic, and one might say antiquarian. +Modernized and transformed in many respects, it still +has the old-time fragrance of sandalwood and incense +when the chests in the old garrets are turned +over for fine things that came from India a century +before.</p> + +<p>Cousin Giles aged more rapidly, but then he was +considerably older than Chilian. He did adopt young +Anthony, and insisted upon his taking the name of +Leverett, and a share of the business burthens. And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> +he married quite to the approval of the elder man, +though not such an heiress as Cynthia.</p> + +<p>And no one was dreaming that the little boy born +in Union Street in 1804 was to add such interest +and lustre to his native town that the scenes of his +curious wizard-like romances were to be settled upon +by those interested in them and handed down as actual +occurrences. Do we not all know Hester Prynne and +Mr. Dimmesdale, Phebe and Hephzibah and Judge +Pyncheon, and weird old Dr. Grimshawe, and many +another that have flitted through the pages of Hawthorne's +strange romances, leaving Salem the richer +by the memories?</p> + +<p>There was another little girl who was to grow up +and take a great interest in all these things, and finally +to see the old Leverett house pass away, after its more +than two hundred years. But it was a new and doubly +interesting Salem then, with its several evolutions that +have passed and gone.</p> + +<p>She lived a long and happy life, this little girl who +came back to her birthplace consigned to Chilian Leverett's +care, and won his love that never changed, or +grew any less. Her sons never tired of the old reminiscences. +Many of the old houses were still standing. +Here President Washington had been entertained; here +the artist Copley had lived and painted portraits that +are heirlooms; Justice Story and his gifted son, poet +and artist; Prescott, the historian, and many another +of whom the country is proud to-day, and civilians<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> +whose fine thought and noble work have made the city +a Mecca for intellectual tourists, and a beautiful and +interesting abiding-place for her citizens, a town of +three striking epochs that linger not only in tradition +but in history.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors were corrected.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. +Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD SALEM***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 20722-h.txt or 20722-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/7/2/20722">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/7/2/20722</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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