ays? Maybe I'd been willing
to go to the new countries, but father was just as opposed to that."

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.

"You have quite decided then?" Chilian wondered if he could ever have
gone against his father's wishes, but in that case father and son had
similar tastes.

"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."

His voice had such a nice wholesome ring that it inspired you with faith
in him.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 w