"You have so many lovely things," said a girl enviously. "I haven't but one silk frock, and that was Mary's until she outgrew it. And mother's so choice of it; she thinks it ought to last and go to Ruth."
"Why, you see, so many things came from India," apologized Cynthia, almost ashamed of having so much. "And there's a boxful upstairs, but I think I like the white muslins best, they look so pretty when they are clean, and you don't have to be so careful."
"Do you ever get scolded when accidents happen?"
"Well, not much. Cousin Eunice is so sweet. Cousin Elizabeth was more particular."
"And Miss Winn?"
"Oh, my dear Rachel loves me too much," the child said laughingly.
There were so many odd and pretty things that they staid up until all the girls had come—not one of them declined. Then they went down to the parlors.
"Cousin Chilian said this back room was to be mine. That lovely desk and the cabinet were my own mother's. And the table is teakwood. The chair father had carved for me, and that big portrait is father. This case has miniatures of them both, but it is too big ever to wear."
"What a pity!"
It was a beautifully engraved gold case, set with jewels.