so early on the fair page
of the Newport season, it is hard to explain; for, charming as is the
summer, September and October are more charming still, and nowhere does
the later autumn exhibit a more indulgent mood, holding back the winter
till the last possible moment, and sometimes coaxing summer to aid and
abet with supplies of greenery and flowers, till the New Year comes to
put an end to the merry game.

Mr. Gray began to go to town in the Sunday-night boat for two or three
days of business, though he still spent the larger half of the week in
Newport. Marian was sent to Lenox for a week's visit to an aunt. The
family seemed very small now; and when Mrs. Gray one Monday morning
announced her intention of running up to Boston next day for the night
and taking Gertrude with her, Georgie loudly protested.

"It is really cruel of you, mamma. Cannie and I will feel like two
deserted little scraps, all alone in this big house. I do think you
might wait till papa is at home. And there's Marian coming back
to-morrow night. What on earth shall we do with her all day? She will
feel dreadfully to find you gone."

"I am sorry about Marian," confessed Mrs. Gray; "but Tuesday happens to
be the best day for us on several accounts. You and Candace must be
particularly good to her, and not let her feel aggrieved or forlorn. I
have ordered the breakfasts and luncheons and dinner for to-morrow and
Wednesday, so you will have no housekeeping to trouble you, and we shall
be back at six o'clock, you know. Two days are but a short time, after
all. You might ask a couple of girls to dine with you to-morrow,--any
one you like."

But Georgie seemed out of spirits. She was dull and dreamy, and said she
didn't care to invite anybody,--she would rather have a nice lazy time
by themselves, if Candace liked it just as well. Candace, who had made
up her mind to the inevitable Berry Joy, was glad to be let off; so she
spent a very quiet day, for Georgie went to her room as soon as lunch
was over, to lie down, as she said, and sleep off a little headache, and
Candace was left alone till nearly dinner-time.

Marian's arrival from the train brought a little stir and variety; but
it was not of the most pleasurable kind, for she was so disappointed and
indignant at finding her mother absent, that till the first sharp sting
of vexation had abated, nothing could be got out of her but sobs and
broken words of complaint. Even when she grew calmer, th