'For shame, Ted!' cried Catherine. 'You get prizes when you are good, industrious children, and your work is not worth money yet. Some day, when you are quite grown up, you will be able to earn payment, as Mr. North does, but only if you learn well while you are young.'
'Did you learn well when you were six?' asked Toddie, anxiously peering into his face.
'I am not quite certain, dear, but I was always very fond of reading.'
'And I say, are you working for prizes too, as we are?'
Brian glanced smilingly at Catherine, who blushed radiantly as he answered:
'Yes, Ted, for a prize that is very beautiful; but I cannot stay to tell you now what the prize is, because I am going out with Miss Carmichael this afternoon.'
'Carr, you'll tell us all about it to-night, won't you?'
''Bout Mr. North's prize!' added Toddie.
An interruption occurred at this moment. A servant brought in a note for Catherine, and explained that Mr. Carmichael's carriage had come for her.
The letter was as follows: