the Donaldsons; old Betty, our servant, had told him the news, I believe.  But I was so perplexed about money, and my vanity was so put out about my shabby dress, that I was in a pet, and said I should not go.  He sate down on the table, and little by little he made me tell him all my troubles.  I do sometimes think he was very nice in those days.  Somehow I never felt as if it was wrong or foolish or anything to accept his offer of money at the time.  He had twenty pounds in his pocket, he said, and really did not know what to do with it, should not want it for months; I could repay it, or rather mamma could, when it suited her.  She must have known I should want money, and most likely thought I should apply to him.  Twenty pounds would not be too much, I must take it all, and so on.  I knew, at least I thought I knew, that I should never spend twenty pounds; but I thought I could give him back what I did not want, and so—­well, that was the beginning!  It does not sound so very wrong, does it, Molly?’

‘No,’ said Molly, hesitatingly.  She did not wish to make herself into a hard judge, and yet she did so dislike Mr. Preston.  Cynthia went on,—­

’Well, what with boots and gloves, and a bonnet and a mantle, and a white muslin gown, which was made for me before I left on the Tuesday, and a silk gown that followed to the Donaldsons’, and my journeys, and all, there was very little left of the twenty pounds, especially when I found I must get a ball-dress in Worcester, for we were all to go to the Ball.  Mrs. Donaldson gave me my ticket, but she rather looked grave at my idea of going to the Ball in my white muslin, which I had already worn two evenings at their house.  Oh dear! how pleasant it must be to be rich!  You know,’ continued Cynthia, smiling a very little, ’I can’t help being aware that I am pretty, and that people admire me very much.  I found it out first at the Donaldsons’.  I began to think I did look pretty in my fine new clothes, and I saw that other people thought so too.  I was certainly the belle of the house, and it was very pleasant to feel my power.  The last day or two of that gay week Mr. Preston joined our party.  The last time he had seen me was when I was dressed in shabby clothes too small for me, half-crying in my solitude, neglected and penniless.  At the Donaldsons’ I was a little queen; and as I said, fine feathers make fine birds, all the people were making much of me; and at that ball, which was the first night he came, I had more partners than I knew what to do with.  I suppose he really did fall in love with me then.  I don’t think he had done so before.  And then I began to feel how awkward it was to be in his debt.  I could not give myself airs to him as I did to others.  Oh! it was so awkward and uncomfortable!  But I liked him, and felt him as a friend all the time.  The last day I was walking in the garden along with the others, and I thought I would tell him how much I had enjoyed myself, and how happy I had been, all