d been too small to realize the position she
was placed in. She felt ready to weep at being found so disobliging, yet
when she thought of the performance required of her, her tongue clove to
her mouth with fright.

The hostess now crossed the room to Phyllis, who had been watching what
had passed between her and Hetty from a distance.

"I have been trying to persuade little Miss Gray to recite for us, or to
do some of her amusing characters, but she has all sorts of reasons why
she cannot oblige me. Is she always so obstinate?"

Phyllis hesitated.

"I think she has a pretty strong will of her own," she said. "I am
afraid she will not yield."

"Well, my dear, you know her better than I do, and it is nice of you not
to be too ready to blame her. But I like little girls who do as their
elders bid them. And I confess I expected to find her agreeable when I
invited her here this evening."

Now if Phyllis had been as generous as she would have liked to believe
herself she would have said, "I know my mother does not approve of
Hetty's performances, and Hetty knows it too. Perhaps this is why she
refuses." But Phyllis, quite unconsciously to herself, was pleased to
hear Hetty blamed, and was willing to think that she ought to have put
all her scruples aside in order to oblige Mrs. Enderby's friend. While
she considered about what it would be pretty to say, her hostess went
on:

"I suppose she is a little conceited and spoiled. She is certainly
exceedingly pretty and clever."

It was much more difficult now for Phyllis to make her amiable speech;
yet she had not the least idea that she was a jealous or an envious
girl. She always felt so good, and everybody said she was so. Jealous
people are always making disturbance. Therefore it was quite impossible
that Phyllis could be jealous.

"I will go and speak to her," she said to the lady of the house, and
crossed the room to where Hetty sat, looking unhappy.

"Hetty," said Phyllis, "I think you ought to do as you are asked. It was
exceedingly kind of Mrs. Cartwright to invite you here. Of course she
expected you to be obliging."

"You mean that she asked me, thinking I would amuse the company?" said
Hetty quickly. "Then I am very sorry you have told me so, Phyllis, for I
should never have guessed it. And now I shall feel miserable till I get
away."

"Can't you be agreeable?"

"No, I can't. Just think of trying it yourself."

"Of course it would not be suitable for