in Kate, chattered
and laughed like any other girl, and showed herself the happy young
thing that she was. At home, even when with Georgie and Gertrude, she
was no longer shy; but the moment a stranger came in, all was changed.
It was like an evil spell cast by some enchanter. The pleasant smile and
simple childish manner vanished, and Cannie became stiff, cold, awkward
even; for her discomfort made her feel constrained in every limb and
muscle. Her manner grew frigid, because she was frightened and wanted to
hide it. If she had to shake hands, she did it without smiling and with
downcast eyes; she was too ill at ease to be cordial. People thought
that she was out of humor or troubled about something, and set her down
as dull and unattractive; and with a natural reaction, Cannie felt that
they did not like her, and that made her more uncomfortable than ever.

Mrs. Gray pitied Cannie very much, and had tried various methods to
shake her out of her shyness and teach her confidence in herself. None
of them so far had done any good. She now began to wonder if her
analysis of the case was not wrong; if shyness was not a fault rather
than a misfortune, and needed to be disciplined accordingly. She watched
Candace for a day or two, and then she made up her mind. "It will be
kill or cure," she thought, as she ordered the coupe and proposed to
Cannie to take the ocean drive. Marian wanted to go too, and protested
that there was plenty of room on the little let-down seat, and that she
wouldn't crowd them a bit; but her mother was quite firm, and despatched
her on an errand in the other direction without any compunctions.

"I must have Cannie all to myself," she thought.

It was not till they were out of the Avenue and rolling along the smooth
road beyond Bailey's Beach, with the fresh-water ponds on one hand and
on the other the points and indentations of the coast, that Mrs. Gray
led to the subject which was on her mind. The sea was intensely blue
that afternoon, with shoots of creamy foam over every rock and ledge,
and for a while they talked of nothing but the beauty of the day and the
view. Finally Mrs. Gray began,--

"How did you like Mrs. Endicott?"

Mrs. Endicott was one of various visitors who had called that morning.
Candace had been sent for, and had been more than usually awkward and
unresponsive.

"I liked her pretty well," said Candace. "She didn't talk to me but a
little while."

"I know she didn't. It was o