She would not show that she was homesick, for so many nice things were
being done for her. A note came from Chilian--Cousin Elizabeth was very
ill, and he hoped she would be content. Some clothes were sent for her,
some of her very best ones, and she was glad to have them.
There were so many things to see in Boston, really much more than at
Salem. They were putting up some fine public buildings. And there was
Bunker Hill and Copp's Hill, and, down near the bay, Fort Hill. There
seemed little rivers running all about and submerged lands.
There were many other entertainments and her days were full. Mrs.
Stevens sent out some cards and seven or eight young girls came in and
chatted quite like the grown-up ladies, asking her about Salem, and
being not a little surprised that she had lived in India. They had a
pretty sort of half tea, cakes and delicacies after the thin bread and
butter, and a most delightful cool drink that seemed to have all flavors
in it. One of the girls played on the spinet afterward. So she had her
first party at Cousin Giles', instead of Salem.
Notes came from Cousin Chilian, and at last the welcome news that he was
coming down for her.
She had come to like Cousin Giles very much. He was so different from
Chilian--breezy and rather teasing--and, oh, what would Cousin Elizabeth
have said to his fashion of getting things about, putting papers or
books on chairs, mislaying his glasses and his gloves, and she would
think the fine furniture, and the servants, and the little feasts
awfully extravagant.
Poor Elizabeth! She had never come back to consciousness. She had shrunk
intensely from the last moment when she would have to face death and the
judgment, though she had been striving all her life to prepare for it.
But God had mercifully spared her that, the two worlds had touched and
merged with each other and left her to God.
There had been a quiet funeral, though it was well attended, but the
coffin was closed and a pall thrown over it, for the poor face had never
recovered its natural look.
All this was softened to Cynthia, as she sat with Cousin Chilian's arm
about her. She had the sweet remembrance of that last day, and the smile
that somehow had made the wrinkled face pretty. It had been thoughtful
and tender in Cousin Chilian to spare her the rest.
They went over to Cambridge and he took her through the place that was
to be so much grander before she was done with life. And here was the
house where he had lived through the week, going home to spend Sundays,
for his father was alive then. And he told her stories about old Boston,
some quaintly funny, but she was rather proud that Salem had been the
first capital of the State.
"I've had such a nice time," she said with her adieu. "Every day has
been full of pleasure. I thank you both very much."
She was to come again, and again, they rejoined cordially.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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