d be introduced."

Up they came at a run, each trying to be the first to arrive. Candace
had never known many girls, but these were of a different species from
any she had seen before. They seemed full of spirits, and conveyed the
idea of being, so to speak, bursting with happiness, though I suppose
not one of the three but would have resented the imputation of being
happier than people in general are or ought to be. Georgie, the eldest,
was short and round, and had her mother's blue near-sighted eyes without
her mother's beauty. Gertrude was unusually tall, and had a sort of
lily-like grace; her light hair was very thick, and so fine in quality
that it stood out like a nimbus round her pale pretty face. Little
Marian, the youngest, two years Candace's junior, was not yet in
society, but had been allowed to go to the picnic as a great favor. Her
hair had a reddish tint in its chestnut, and was braided in one large
plait down her back; she had brown eyes and a capable little face which
was full of expression.

They all spoke kindly to Candace, they all kissed her, but she felt much
less at ease with them than with their mother, whose peculiarly charming
manner seemed to invite confidence from everybody. After a few questions
and a few words of welcome, they plunged into a description of their
picnic,--the yacht-sail, the landing, the luncheon, the general
delightfulness of everything.

"Berry Joy was not there," remarked Georgie. "She had gone up to
Wickford to meet some one. By the way, she must have come down on the
'Eolus' with you, Candace. Did you see her?"

"There were two young ladies," answered Candace, timidly.

"Did you hear their names? Did you talk to them?" asked Gertrude.

"No--yes--no--I mean the Captain called one of them Miss Joy. I didn't
talk to them, but they knew you."

"Why, how could you tell that?"

"I heard them talking about you."

"What fun! What did they say?"

Candace hesitated. Her face grew crimson. "I'd rather--I don't--" she
began. Then with a great effort, rallying her powers, she went on: "I
didn't like to sit there and hear them and not tell them that I was your
cousin; but I was too--too--frightened to speak to them, so I thought I
would never repeat what they said, and then it wouldn't be any matter."

"Quite right, Cannie," said Mrs. Gray, quickly. Something in the girl's
little speech seemed to please her very much.

CHAPTER II.

THE FIRST EVENING.

CANDAC