Hamilton.

The boarding-school at which Agnes and her cousins were placed, was
under the superintendence of Mrs. Arlington and her daughters, ladies
who had received a most thorough education in England, and who had long
kept an extensive and popular boarding-school there. The hope of passing
her declining days in the society of an only son, who had some years
before emigrated to America, induced Mrs. Arlington, accompanied by her
daughters, to follow him, and though it pleased Providence to remove
this idolized son and brother, by death, in a little more than a year
after their reunion in this country, the mother and daughters determined
to remain, and continue their vocation here, where they had very
flattering hopes of success.

Mr. and Mrs. Wharton had long known and esteemed these estimable ladies,
and though, in many respects, opposed to boarding-schools in general,
yet, as there seemed, at present, no other means for the girls to
acquire an education, but by sending them from home, they thought that a
more unexceptionable place could not be provided for them than Mrs.
Arlington's school.

Mrs. Arlington, though a woman of more than sixty years of age, still
possessed an erect and queen-like figure, a most dignified and stately
appearance, and a face of remarkable beauty. She commanded respect at
first sight, and there was no punishment greater for her pupils, than to
be reported to Mrs. Arlington, and to be obliged to meet her face to
face, to receive a reprimand. Her three daughters, Miss Susan, Miss
Sophie, and Miss Emma, taught in different departments of the school,
and were in every respect most admirably fitted for their different
stations. Miss Emma taught music; Miss Sophie, French and drawing; while
Mrs. Arlington and her eldest daughter attended solely to the more solid
branches of education.

It took some little time, of course, before our young friends felt at
home in so strange a place, and among so many new faces. But many of
the older scholars, who had been long in the school, were very kind in
coming forward to make their acquaintance, and endeavor to do away the
feeling of awkwardness, ever an attendant upon the introduction to
scenes so untried and new. Grace and Effie were very shy and silent at
first, but the peculiarly sweet and unaffected friendliness of Agnes'
manner, won every heart immediately. The younger scholars, especially,
seemed to love her the moment she spoke to them, and to