ver love any
one as well as you."

That was very sweet, but it was a girl's innocence, and her face did not
change color in the admission.

"Well, I will explain the matter to Mr. Saltonstall. I am glad you told
me, otherwise I should hardly have known your wishes on the subject. And
now we will go on having good times together, and count out lovers."

"Yes, yes." She gave his hand a squeeze and was her own happy self, not
feeling half as sorry for the man who would come to be denied as he did.

It snowed furiously the next morning, and sullenly the day after. Then
it was cold, and she said half a dozen times a day she was so glad she
came home.

She did not see Mr. Saltonstall when he called, and she really did miss
him at two little companies. Then she wondered if she oughtn't give one,
she had gone to so many.

"Why, yes," Cousin Chilian answered. She might have turned the house
upside down so long as she was going to stay in it.

Then she wondered if she ought to invite _him_. Mrs. Lynde and she were
very good friends, and she should ask Avis, of course. They spoke--they
were not ill friends.

Chilian considered. "Yes, I think I would," he made answer.

They had a merry time and danced on the beautiful rugs, and had a fine
supper. And Mr. Saltonstall was glad to be friends. She _was_ young and
presently she might think of lovers. He would try and keep his chance
good.

_Anthony came now_ and then and spent a Sunday with them. He loved to
hear Cousin Chilian read Greek verses, but the pretty love odes seemed
to mean Cynthia, and he used to watch her. Then Ben Upham was a visitor
as well, and used to play checkers with her, as that was considered
quite a good exercise for one's brains.

Polly would be married in the spring, Alice Turner in June. The Turners
were always besieging her for a two or three days' visit, and the Turner
young men hovered round her. She never seemed to do anything, she never
demanded attention, but when she glanced up at them, or smiled, they
followed her as the children did the Pied Piper. She might have led them
into dangerous places, but she was very simple of heart. Yet the danger
was alluring to them.

Polly came to her for a good deal of counsel. When there were two
patterns of sleeves, which should she take?

"Why, I'd have the India silk made with this and the English gingham
with that--you see it will iron so much easier. Miss Grayson does up the
puffs on a shirring c