tained her aunt on the back
seat; but it was not by any means the same thing as going with Cynthia
alone would have been.

That young woman, with apparent unconsciousness of his dissatisfaction,
chatted gayly about the wedding, the various bits of Brenton gossip, and
everything that she could think of to keep the ball of conversation
rolling. Somehow it had never before been so difficult to talk to Neal.
She wished that he would exert himself a little more.

"How do you like the idea of being usher," she asked--"you and Jack and
four others, you know? Tom Morgan is to be best man, Gertrude and Kitty
Morgan are to be bridesmaids, and I maid of honor. But, Neal, did you
hear the story about Tony Bronson?"

"No; what?"

"Oh, he did some terrible thing not very long ago. He forged his uncle's
name, I believe. It got into the papers at first, and then it was all
hushed up, and his father paid the money. But wasn't it dreadful?"

"I should say so! But it is just what one might have expected Bronson to
do, Cynth."

And then Neal relapsed into silence again, and Cynthia determined that
she would make no further effort at conversation. If Neal would not talk
he need not, but neither would she. And after this, with the exception
of Miss Betsey's voice from behind, nothing was heard but the jingle of
the sleigh-bells until the drive was over and they were at home again.

The wedding the next day passed off well. The bride looked lovely, as
all brides should, and Cynthia was as pretty as, if not more so than,
her sister. After the ceremony at the church there was a reception at
the house, which, notwithstanding the winter aspect without, looked warm
and gay in its dress of Christmas-greens and wedding-flowers.

Edith was upstairs in her old room, and her mother and Cynthia were
putting the last touches to her toilet when she had changed her dress to
go away.

"Mamma, I want to say something to you," she said, putting her arms
around Mrs. Franklin's neck. "You know how I love you now, and you know
only too well how hateful I was to you when you first came to us. I look
back on it now with horror, especially the day you heard me say it was
so dreadful to have the Gordons come. I want to tell you, mamma, that
next to Dennis the coming of the Gordons was the very best thing that
ever happened to me in my whole life!"

Mrs. Franklin could not speak; she could only kiss her and hold her
tenderly.

Cynthia said nothing aloud