"But that was in the garden and came by accident.

I could not do anything before all this crowd." "Well, if you were a shy child I could understand," said the lady; "but you know I heard you long ago when you were much younger.

If you were not shy then you cannot be so now." Hetty could not explain that it was just because she was older now that she was shy.

Long ago she had been too small to realize the position she was placed in.

She felt ready to weep at being found so disobliging, yet when she thought of the performance required of her, her tongue clove to her mouth with fright.
The hostess now crossed the room to Phyllis, who had been watching what had passed between her and Hetty from a distance.
"I have been trying to persuade little Miss Gray to recite for us, or to do some of her amusing characters, but she has all sorts of reasons why she cannot oblige me.