't a first
cousin, neither have you."

"And a whole houseful of folks is so nice," she said wistfully.

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.

"We will try and have some."

"And you must like it. If you do not, the greatest pleasure will be
taken out of it for me."

"I shall like it;" encouragingly.

"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."

Then they sat in silence, the contentment of affection.

He spoke to Miss Winn the next day. Afterward they went into the parlor
and opened the shutters. It was stately, grand, and gloomy.

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 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.

"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."

"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."

"One of the rooms ought to be hers--well, both," he added reflectively.

"The rugs are elegant. Yes, lighter curtains would change it a good
deal. How very handsome the mantels are with all their carving."

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.

"And--about the party?"

"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.

So the two spacious rooms were quite remodelled and modernized, and the
gloomy appearance was a thing of the past. Why shouldn't he spend his
money on her? T