ch was
much more convenient than having only one.

The large places on the Cliffs were all open and occupied now. The
flower-beds, newly planted when Candace came, made wonderful spaces of
color everywhere in the emerald turf. Geraniums seemed as universal as
grass, and their splendid reds and pinks were such as are seldom seen
anywhere except in Newport. Foliage plants grew into enormous crimson or
golden mats, which showed not one break in their luxuriant fulness. In
the more ornate places were beds planted to look like Turkish carpets or
Indian shawls, the pattern reproduced by hundreds of small plants of
carefully adjusted hues, kept closely shaven so as to lie as flat as the
objects they simulated. Roses were everywhere; and the soft drifting
mists which now and again blew in from the sea, and the constant
underlying moisture of the climate kept everything in a state of perfect
freshness.

The Casino balls and lawn-tennis matches had begun. Visitors were
pouring into the Ocean House; and every day increased the number of
carriages, drags, dog-carts, pony phaetons, and village carts, which on
all bright afternoons thronged the Avenue from end to end. Dinners and
lawn-parties were of frequent occurrence, and during calling-hours the
bell seemed always in vibration at the Gray cottage.--"Cottage" I call
it; for in Newport everything that is not a "villa" is styled a
"cottage," no matter how big or square or uncompromising its appearance
may be.

Candace was rather too young to be taken into general society, and she
saw much less of these entertainments than Georgie; less even than
Gertrude, who, by reason of her intimacy with Georgie's set, was often
included in their parties, though not yet formally "out." Mrs. Gray,
however, thought it good for Candace to share a little of what was going
on; and she took pains to have her invited now and then with the others
to lawn-parties, excursions, or afternoon teas. If Mrs. Gray herself was
present on these occasions, Cannie did pretty well; for she invariably
got behind her cousin or beside her, made no attempt to talk, and just
amused herself by watching what went on. But when Mrs. Gray did not go,
and she was left to the tender mercies of Georgie and Gertrude, she was
apt to feel lonely and unfriended; for with all the better resolutions
of these pleasure-loving young people, they still found it "easy to
forget Cannie."

"What are you going to do this morning, children