"Come here, Tilly," said Clarissa. And she began a whispered explanation, to which the little girl listened intently.
"I do not hear yet what was the business done to-night?" Mrs. Englefield went on.
"Why, there were committees formed," said Letitia, "for doing every sort of business under heaven."
"Committees!" said the two ladies who had stayed at home.
"Maria can tell you," said Anne. "Maria, on how many committees are you?"
Maria hugged the fire and did not answer.
"On how many, Maria?"
"I don't know. I didn't count."
"I lost count, too," her sister said. "Let me see. Mamma, Maria has undertaken to find and bring in new scholars for the school."
"I hope she will be punctual in going herself, then," said Mrs. Englefield. "She hasn't been, this six months past, to my knowledge."