126 The Story of the Hamiltons.

 They went down stairs to fetch up their
hats and cloaks, which they had tossed down
in the hall on first coming in, and carried
them up into their own room. Their mamma
joined them there, and, sitting round the
fire, had a long, quiet chat with them. She
told them how the illness had begun : at first,
slightly, occasioning her but little alarm;
then, suddenly changing its symptoms, had
rapidly assumed the appearance it now bore.
The calmness-not to say cheerfulness with
which she spoke-had a wonderfully soothing
effect on Grace and Edith's grief, which had
been as yet the outburst of overwhelming
sorrow, rather than the chastened meekness
of resignation ; but their mother's demeanour
was a silent lesson-to bear for the sake of
others what for one's own would be nearly
impossible.
 "And Gilbert, Mamma?" said Grace,
wiping her eyes and forcing herself to speak
intelligibly.
 "Papa has written to him, dear. We do
not wish to alarm him more than is necessary,
as it is of great importance he should not
be disturbed in his studies; but all that
Doctor Baring considers right he knows al-
ready. I shall be very glad for one of you to