It is early yet and we shall have time to read the letter afterward in my room.

Then Anne and Miriam can hear it, too.

Here they come, the slow pokes." "A dillar, a dollar, a ten-o'clock scholar, Oh, why did you come so soon ?" chanted Elfreda as Anne, followed by Miriam, appeared at the head of the stairs.
"A ten-minutes-to-eight-o'clock scholar," calmly corrected Miriam.

"We are early, but you and Grace are distressingly early.

I suppose you found the fabled worm." "Here it is." Grace held up the letter.