now Sir Walter Scott was
having a great hearing, and there were some new poets.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

And though the winter seemed cold and bleak spring 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.

"Consider it well," said Mr. Leverett. "I don't know how we could give
you up, and, of c