“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.  Is she always so obstinate?”

Phyllis hesitated.

“I think she has a pretty strong will of her own,” she said.  “I am afraid she will not yield.”

“Well, my dear, you know her better than I do, and it is nice of you not to be too ready to blame her.  But I like little girls who do as their elders bid them.  And I confess I expected to find her agreeable when I invited her here this evening.”

Now if Phyllis had been as generous as she would have liked to believe herself she would have said, “I know my mother does not approve of Hetty’s performances, and Hetty knows it too.  Perhaps this is why she refuses.”  But Phyllis, quite unconsciously to herself, was pleased to hear Hetty blamed, and was willing to think that she ought to have put all her scruples aside in order to oblige Mrs. Enderby’s friend.  While she considered about what it would be pretty to say, her hostess went on: 

“I suppose she is a little conceited and spoiled.  She is certainly exceedingly pretty and clever.”

It was much more difficult now for Phyllis to make her amiable speech; yet she had not the least idea that she was a jealous or an envious girl.  She always felt so good, and everybody said she was so.  Jealous people are always making disturbance.  Therefore it was quite impossible that Phyllis could be jealous.

“I will go and speak to her,” she said to the lady of the house, and crossed the room to where Hetty sat, looking unhappy.

“Hetty,” said Phyllis, “I think you ought to do as you are asked.  It was exceedingly kind of Mrs. Cartwright to invite you here.  Of course she expected you to be obliging.”

“You mean that she asked me, thinking I would amuse the company?” said Hetty quickly.  “Then I am very sorry you have told me so, Phyllis, for I should never have guessed it.  And now I shall feel miserable till I get away.”

“Can’t you be agreeable?”

“No, I can’t.  Just think of trying it yourself.”

“Of course it would not be suitable for me,” said Phyllis.  “Our positions are different.  However, if you choose to be ungrateful you must.”