Produced by Heather Clark, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) SILVER PITCHERS: AND INDEPENDENCE, A Centennial Love Story. By LOUISA M. ALCOTT, AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," "EIGHT COUSINS," "WORK," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," ETC. BOSTON: ROBERTS BROTHERS. 1888. _Copyright_, BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT. 1876. UNIVERSITY PRESS: JOHN WILSON & SON, CAMBRIDGE. CONTENTS SILVER PITCHERS ANNA'S WHIM TRANSCENDENTAL WILD OATS THE ROMANCE OF A SUMMER DAY MY ROCOCO WATCH BY THE RIVER LETTY'S TRAMP SCARLET STOCKINGS INDEPENDENCE: A CENTENNIAL LOVE STORY SILVER PITCHERS. CHAPTER I. _HOW IT BEGAN._ "We can do nothing about it except show our displeasure in some proper manner," said Portia, in her most dignified tone. "_I_ should like to cut them all dead for a year to come; and I'm not sure that I won't!" cried Pauline, fiercely. "We _ought_ to make it impossible for such a thing to happen again, and I think we _might_," added Priscilla, so decidedly that the others looked at her in surprise. The three friends sat by the fire "talking things over," as girls love to do. Pretty creatures, all of them, as they nestled together on the lounge in dressing-gowns and slippers, with unbound hair, eyes still bright with excitement, and tongues that still wagged briskly. Usually the chat was of dresses, compliments, and all the little adventures that befall gay girls at a merry-making. But to-night something of uncommon interest absorbed the three, and kept them talking earnestly long after they should have been asleep. Handsome Portia looked out from her blonde locks with a disgusted expression, as she sipped the chocolate thoughtful mamma had left inside the fender. Rosy-faced Pauline sat staring indignantly at the fire; while in gentle Priscilla's soft eyes the shadow of a real sorrow seemed to mingle with the light of a strong determination. Yes, something had happened at this Thanksgiving festival which much offended the three friends, and demanded grave consideration on their part; for the "Sweet P's," as Portia, Pris, and Polly were called, were the belles of the town. One ruled by right of beauty and position, one by the power of a character so sweet and strong that its influence was widely felt, and one by the wit and winsomeness of a high yet generous spirit. It had been an unusually pleasant evening, for after the quilting bee in the afternoon good Squire Allen had given a bountiful supper, and all the young folks of the town had joined in the old-fashioned games, which made the roof ring with hearty merriment.