be somewhat
afraid of him, for she watches him constantly when she is talking, and
she does not now slip her hand into his as she used to when guests are
leaving and she stands at his side; neither is she quite so
demonstrative when he comes up from the office at night, and there is a
look upon her face which was not there when she came. They are taming
her down, mother and Juno, and to-morrow they are actually going to
commence a systematic course of training, preparatory to her _debut_
into society, said _debut_ to occur on the night of the ----, when Mrs.
General Reynolds gives the party talked about so long. I was present
when they met in solemn conclave to talk it over, mother asking Will if
he had any objections to Juno's instructing his wife with regard to
certain things of which she was ignorant. Will's forehead knit itself
together at first, and I half hoped he would veto the whole proceedings,
but after a moment he replied:

"No, providing Katy is willing. Her feelings must not be hurt."

"Certainly not," mother said. "Katy is a dear little creature, and we
all love her very much, but that does not blind us to her deficiencies,
and as we are anxious that she should fill that place in society which
Mrs. Wilford Cameron ought to fill, it seems necessary to tone her down
a little before her first appearance at a party."

To this Will assented, and then Juno went on to enumerate her
deficiencies, which, as nearly as I can remember, are these: She laughs
too much and too loud; is too enthusiastic over novelties, conducting as
if she never saw anything before; has too much to say about Silverton
and "my folks," quotes Uncle Ephraim and Sister Helen too often, and is
even guilty at times of mentioning a certain Aunt Betsy, who must have
floated with the Ark and snuffled the breezes of Ararat. She does not
know how to enter, or cross, or leave a room properly, or receive an
introduction; or, in short, do anything according to New York ideas as
understood by the Camerons, etc.; she is to be taught--toned down,
mother called it--dwelling upon her high spirits as something vulgar, if
not absolutely wicked. How father would have sworn, for he calls her his
little sunbeam, and says he never should have gained so fast if she had
not come with her sunny face and lively, merry laugh to cheer his
sickroom. Katy has a fast friend in him and Jamie. But mother and
Juno--well, I shall be glad if they do not annihilate her altog