Afaking the Best of It. 83

seen and known down there than in this
stupid, dull place! And then Saturdays!
They will be only too delightful! Perhaps
mamma and I may come and take you for
a walk; there's no knowing. And Herbert
will often come down on half-holidays to see
how you get on. Oh, depend upon it, you
will find it an agreeable change !"
 Though Grace could not agree with this
last sentiment, she brightened up at the
notion of her papa taking her for a walk;
and Edith suggested that perhaps they might
have letters from home, with all the news,
when the basket of clean clothes was sent
to them each week. Mrs. Hamilton, too,
reminded them that Miss Campbell had pro-
mised to allow them to spend an occasional
half-holiday at home, and that, after all,
Christmas was not so very far off-it would
arrive sooner than they imagined if they
employed themselves well during the in-
terim; so that things did not look so very
black as' Grace at first fancied.
 The preparations for going occupied most
of the girls' spare time. It was their first
absence from home-or, rather, from their
parents, for they had been away from Bar-
ham the preceding summer for some time,
 F2