various bowls and vases. Little Marian had three cages of birds to
attend to, which, as she was very particular about their baths and
behavior, took a long time. Candace alone had nothing to do, and sat by,
feeling idle and left out among the rest.

"I think I shall put you in charge of the piazza boxes," said Mrs. Gray,
noticing her forlorn look as she came back from her interview with the
fishmonger. "See, Cannie, the watering-pot is kept _here_, and the
faucet of cold water is just there in the pantry. Would you like to take
them as a little bit of daily regular work? They must be sprinkled
every morning; and if the earth is dry they must be thoroughly watered,
and all the seed-pods and yellow leaves and dead flowers must be picked
off. Do you feel as if you could do it?"

"Oh, I should like to," said Cannie, brightening.

"Very well. Georgie has plenty to attend to without them, I imagine. She
will be glad to be helped. Georgie, Cannie has agreed to take the care
of all the outside flower-boxes in future. You needn't have them on your
mind any more."

"That's nice," said Georgie, good-naturedly. "Then I will look after the
plants on your balcony, mamma. Elizabeth doesn't half see to them."

"Oh, mightn't I do those too?" urged Cannie. "I wish you would let me."

"Well, you can if you like. They are all watered for to-day, though. You
needn't begin till to-morrow."

"That is just as well," said Mrs. Gray; "for now that I am through with
the orders and the tradesmen, I want Cannie to come up to the
morning-room for a consultation. Georgie, you may come too. It's about
your hair, Cannie. Those thick curls are very pretty, but they look a
trifle old-fashioned, and I should think must be rather hot, like a
little warm shawl always on your shoulders all summer long." She stroked
the curls with her soft hand, as she spoke. "Should you dislike to have
them knotted up, Cannie? You are quite old enough, I think."

"No, I shouldn't dislike it, but I don't know how to do my hair in any
other way. I have always worn it like this."

"We'll teach you," cried Georgie and Gertrude, who had joined them while
her mother was speaking. "Let us have a 'Council of Three' in the
morning-room, and see what is most becoming to her."

So upstairs they went, and the girls pounced on Cannie, and put a towel
over her shoulders, and brushed out her curls, and tried this way and
that, while Mrs. Gray sat by and laughed. She would not
i