nge 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.

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.

"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 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."

"It's very old. It was mother's. I think we must have a new one. And you
can learn."

"Oh, I shall be so glad."

Mrs. Taft was out in the kitchen. "Now you all go your ways," she began.
"'Taint nothing to clear off the supper table."

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.

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.

He had asked Mrs. Taft to stay with them.

"Well, I can't exactly promise. You se