Part 31 (2/2)

There was a charming half-coquettish way about her, but she never made a bid for compliments.

”What then?” laughing.

”I'd stay home and spoil the wedding party. I know they couldn't fill my place on a short notice.”

He thought they couldn't fill it at all, but he said almost merrily, ”You need not stay at home.”

Cousin Eunice said she looked pretty enough for the bride. Miss Winn had attended to her toilette, and now she wrapped a soft silken cloak about her and Cousin Chilian put her in the carriage. He was all in his best, ruffled s.h.i.+rt-front, light brocaded silk waist-coat, and there were lace ruffles about his hands.

One feels inclined to wonder at the extravagance of those days, when one sees some of the heirlooms that have come down to us. But their handsome gowns went through several seasons, and then were made over for the daughters. And they did not have their jewels reset every few months.

Such a roomful of pretty girls! Youth and health and picturesque dressing make almost any one pretty. Miss Laura looked fine, but she paused to say, ”Oh, Cynthia, what an elegant necklace!”

”Father had it made for mother,” she replied simply.

They patted and pulled a little, powdered, too.

Miss Willard, the great mantua-maker of that day, who superintended the dressing of brides, saw that everything was right. The young men came from their dressing-room, and they began to form the procession. Both halls were illuminated with no end of candles, and guests were standing about. Mr. Lynde Saltonstall took his bride-to-be, and they let the white train sweep down the broad stairway, then Avis Manning and Ed Saltonstall followed. They were not much on knick-names in those days, but he had been called Ed to distinguish him from some cousins.

Cynthia and a cousin came next, and there were several other relatives.

It was a beautiful sight. The bride walked up to the white satin cus.h.i.+on on which the couple would kneel during the prayer, the maids and attendants made a semicircle around her, and then the nearest relatives.

The old white-haired minister had married her mother.

Then there was kissing and congratulation and Mrs. Saltonstall had her new name, though Avis said she liked Manning a hundred times better.

”Then you wouldn't accept my name?” said Ed, but he looked laughingly at Cynthia.

”Indeed I wouldn't! I don't want any one's name at present. I'm going to be the only daughter of the house a while,” she returned saucily.

”I wonder if I ought to go on and ask all the maids?” There was such a funny anxiety in his face that it added to the merriment.

”You needn't ask this one,” said Ward Adams, and Cousin Lois Reade blushed scarlet, though they all knew she was engaged.

”But I'm going to dance with every maid. And just at twelve I'm going to hunt for a gla.s.s slipper.”

His look at Cynthia said he needn't hunt very far, and she blushed, which made her more enchanting than before.

They all laughed and talked, the older men teasing the bride a little and giving her advice as to how she should break in her new husband.

Young people's weddings were expected to be gay and every one added his or her mite. The fine new house was duly admired. On one side it was all one long room, beautifully decorated. On the other a library, for books were beginning to come in fas.h.i.+on, even if you were not a clergyman or a student. Then a kind of family sitting-room, with a large dining-room at the back. Some of the fine old houses were taken for public purposes later on.

They went out to refreshments and the bride cut the cake with a silver knife. Large suppers were no longer considered the style, but there was a bountiful supply of delicacies. They drank health and long life to the bride and groom, and good wishes of all kinds.

The black waiter, in white gloves and white ap.r.o.n, stood in the hall to deliver boxes of wedding cake as the older people took their departure.

And then the fiddlers began to tune up. There were two minuets to take in all the party. Cynthia and Mr. Jordan were in the head one, with the bride. He was a little stiff and excused himself, as he wasn't much given to dancing. It didn't matter so much in the minuet.

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