Three Margarets

gs and

strawb

llicki

gay Sall

-dress for a pretty dark red cashmere, which became her well; but Peggy, who came running down a moment later, still wore her ill-fitting frock of green flannel, the scant attracti

't have time to do anything. Say," she added, lowering her voice, "I think you are sweet, b

judge a person on ten minutes' acquaintance. I am sure I hope you and

ly horrid!-there now! Stuck-up and conceited, and looking at other pe

ret, laughing; "nor feel like one," she added,

how us the dining-room. Elizabeth, we hav

loth on the dark table, which shone like a mirror, reflecting the blaze of the candles in mellow points of light. At the head stood a shining silver tea-service and a Dresden chocolate-pot, s

e? But how funny to have no table-clot

ret. "Papa always li

ble, miss?" asked Elizabeth. "I h

" suggested Ma

! Miss Peggy's a

izabeth. And Miss Rita will sit opposite me and carve the chicken.

re to try, thanks! Take this to the sideboard and carve it," she added, addressing Elizabeth in a tone of careless command. The woman obeyed i

she said in a loud whisper to Margaret. But Marga

Rita, or chocolate

er if it will be fit to drink? One hears that everything o

a, they are all different! I shall give you this delicate pink one, for it just matches your gown. Such a pretty gown!" she added ad

sly. "I have brought no clothes to speak of. Yes

darling with the gold arabesques. Surely, anything woul

aturally, the saucer tilted up, the cup tilted over, and a stream of chocolate poured over her hand and arm, and descended into her lap, where it formed a neat bro

eluged her, sat still, apparently afraid of making matters worse if she stirred. Margaret, after ringing the bell violently to call Elizabeth, pr

girl. "Why, I didn't do a thin

nny, it was hard to keep from smiling. "Oh, here is Elizabeth! Elizabeth, we have had an accident

ed the scene wit

If the young lady will come up with me at once, an

r!" urged Margaret. "Nothing ca

, hanging her head and

e to see the affair in another light, and as her cous

Margaret. "She wil

and certainly this was a most astonishing tour de force. Seriously, my dear," she added, seeing Margaret's troubled look, "how are we to take ou

. I am quite sure it would have affected my nerves seriously if I had been obliged to see it every day. Do they perhaps cut dresses w

inclined to friendliness with her? And yet she could not let poor Peggy go undefended. At last she said gently, yet with meani

kind! You are altogether charming. Surely you must see that this young person is simpl

But she has an honest, good face, and I like her. Besides," she added, unconsciously repeating the argument she had used

a lifetime! My judgments, chère cousine, ar

ht?" asked Margaret, hal

aid Rita, nodding her pret

oming to Margaret's side, laid h

charming, I do hope you are not good. It is detestable to

garet, returning the caress, and resisting th

ightful people; all bad! Oh, of course when one

bad, Rita?" asked

suddenly, without the slightest warning, she burst into a tropical

the library sofa, with a fan and a vinaigrette, Peggy had come down again, in a state of aggrieved dejection, to finish h

chicken and buttered her roll. "I wish I hadn't come here.

you have had a good night's rest, you will feel very differently, I know you will. Just think how delightful it will be to explore the house, and to roam about the gard

cle Roger stood on Uncle John's shoulders, and Pa on his; and when he was finishing the tail of the M, Pa gave such a dig with

hat the bad mom

said. "Think! I have never even seen a picture of Uncle J

the farm all day, you know, and in the evening he sits in the corner and smokes his pipe, and the bo

uired Margaret.

d began to count

Peggy, Jean, Bessie, Flora, and Doris, g

ow rich I feel! Now you must tell me al

a,-six feet four in his shoes. He has charge of the stock, and spends most of his time on horseback. His h

said Margaret hearti

elieve you'd like him. He has been to college, you know, and he s

"He's very clever," continued Peggy, "and Pa is very proud of him. I s'po

urite brother?" Ma

e day Hugh was sick upstairs, and they had an awful row. Pa was out, and Ma couldn't do anything with them; she never can. Hugh can generally stop them, but this time he couldn't go down, you see. I was sitting with him, and I saw him getting whiter and whiter. At last he said, 'Peggy, I want you-' and then he stopped and said, 'No, you are too big. Bring little Peter here!' I went and brought Peter, who was about four then. 'Petie,' said Hugh, 'take brother's crutch, and go downstairs, and give it to Brother Jim and Brother George. Say Hu

ge?" aske

ere she stopped suddenly, for a vision appeared in the doorway. Pale and scornful, with her great dark ey

ntinue, I pray you, your thrilling disclosures as long as my cousin's ears can contain them!" And with a mocking courtesy she swept away, leaving the other two girls with an indefinable sense of gu

e muttered. "I wish

a headache. It has been delightful to hear about the brothers, and especially about Hugh; but I

ionately, and arm in arm the