122 The Story of the Hamiltons.

was displaying them to Grace and Edith, and
making comical observations on their imper-
fections, which caused them great amusement,
so much so that Miss Campbell was obliged
to interfere at last, and request that the book
should be put away till after tea. As the
girls were leaving the room, Miss Campbell
placed her hand on a shoulder of each of the
Hamiltons, and whispered to them to wait a
minute. As soon as the room was cleared,
she said, taking a note from her pocket:
 "This note is from your mamma, my dears,
she is wanting to see you both very much,
and proposes to let you spend to-morrow at
home."
 Edith looked delighted, but Grace's face
was grave. Why should they go home so
suddenly? and why did their mamma want
them more now than any other time ? she
was thinking; but Miss Campbell went on:
 "Arnold has brought the carriage, and he
says that you had better go at once, it is
coming on such a very rough evening; so run
up and dress; mind you wrap up well.
While the children were gone, Miss Campbell
had time to think what she should do next.
She was sorely grieved and perplexed at the
contents of the note; it was written evidently