r she was very busy learning to play and to paint. It was a
young lady's accomplishment, but she really did very well. There were
girls' teas, and now and then a small dance that began at seven and
ended at nine, but boys were invited generally. Miss Polly Upham was
quite in the swim, as we should say now. Mothers expected their
daughters to marry, and how could they if they did not see young men?
But there was a certain propriety observed, and very little playing fast
and loose with the most sacred period of life, with the greatest
God-given blessing--Love.

CHAPTER XIV

IN GAY OLD SALEM

The next winter Cynthia was fairly launched on society. There was no
regular coming out in almost bridal array, with a grand tea and a
houseful of flowers. When a girl left school she expected to be invited
out and to give little companies at home. Almost the first thing, she
was asked to be one of the six bridesmaids at Laura Manning's wedding.

The Mannings had one of the splendid new houses on Chestnut Street, with
spacious grounds before the houses grew so close together. Avis Manning
was still in school, Cynthia was between the two in age. Mr. Manning was
connected with the East India trade and an old friend of the Leverett
family. It had begun by Cynthia being invited to a girls' tea, and Mrs.
Manning had taken a great fancy to her. Laura was not very tall, and
they did not want any one to dwarf the bride.

Every one was to be in white, the bride in a soft, thick silk, and she
was to have a court train. The maids were to be in mull or gauze, as a
very pretty thin material was called. The Empress Josephine had brought
in new styles that certainly were very becoming to young people. The
short waist and square neck, the sleeve puffs that had shrunk so much
they no longer reached the ears, the short curls around the edge of the
forehead arranged so the white parting showed, the dainty feet in
elegant slippers and choice silk stockings that could not help showing,
for the skirts were short. Pretty feet and slim ankles seemed to be a
mark of good family.

"Will I do?" Cynthia stood before Cousin Chilian with a half-saucy
smile. Around her throat she wore a beautiful Oriental necklace, with
pendants of different fine stones that sparkled with every turn of the
head. There were match pendants in her ears, and just back of the rows
of curls was a jewelled comb.

She was a pretty girl without being a striking beauty. But h