wanted you to know so no one can take you from me. I want
to see you often. Oh, love, good-night, good-night!"

He pressed a rapturous kiss upon her hand and was gone. She slipped
through to the dining-room and took a glass of water.

"You look tired to death, little country girl," said Uncle Giles, and he
kissed her on the forehead.

CHAPTER XV

LOVERS AND LOVERS

"Take me home with you, Cousin Chilian," she pleaded, when he came in
the next day.

"But I thought"--he studied her in surprise.

"I want to go home," she interrupted, and her under lip had a quiver in
it that would have disarmed almost any one, persuaded as well.

"Why, yes. Didn't you enjoy the party?" He felt suddenly at loss, he was
not used to translating moods with all his knowledge.

"Oh, it was delightful! And some such pretty girls. There were new
dances. And Mrs. Stevens _is_ charming. Anthony came over a little
while."

In spite of inducements held out, she would go. Cousin Giles was almost
cross about it.

"I'm so glad to get back," she said to Rachel. "One feels so safe here."

"Was there any danger?" laughed the elder.

Cynthia's face was scarlet. It wasn't danger exactly, but she felt
better under Cousin Chilian's wing. And she was her bright gay self all
the evening.

But how to get her story told? For if Mr. Saltonstall came and asked for
her company, as they termed it then, and not being warned, he should
consent----

They sat by the study fire. It had turned out cold and cloudy, with
indications of snow. He had a lamp near him on the small table, and read
and thought, as his glance wandered dreamily over the leaping flashing
blue and yellow flames. If it stormed for one or two days, she could not
have come home.

She rose presently and came and stood by him, laid her hand lightly on
his shoulder. She was a young lady now, and it was hardly proper to draw
her down on his knee.

"Cousin Chilian;" hesitatingly.

"Well, dear?" in an inquiring tone.

"There is something I ought to tell you, and I want to ask you--to--to
do--oh, I hardly know how to say it. Mr. Saltonstall came down; he and
Mrs. Stevens are old friends----"

Ah, he knew now. This young man had dared to invade the virginal
sweetness of her soul, to trouble the quiet stream of girlhood. He was
roused, strangely angry, for all his placid temperament.

"I couldn't help it--just before he went away--and I couldn't have
dreamed of such a thing----"