Three Margarets

dow. She had gone to bed in a discouraged frame of mind, and dreamed that her two cousins had turned into lionesses, and were fighti

ng hair. "I dare say everything will go well after a while, bu

re; but Peggy soon appeared, rubbing

ette and muffins, was about to fling herself headlon

s. Cheriton-is she not here? I see you ha

"She asked me to say that she would be glad to see the young ladies

clear voice was heard calling

ebody! come her

s, and as she reached the foot of the

w such carelessness. There is no bell in my room,

ome down to breakfast with the other young ladies. Shall I bring you a cup o

nd have it strong, do you hear?" And the young Cuban swept back into her roo

m so glad she didn't get the coffee. Greedy thing! Please hand me the muffins, Margaret. How small they ar

ches still," said p

s used to being waited on by darkeys, and she th

but she did not say so, preferring the

. I can see a bit of it from here, and it looks lovely. Oh! I can just catch a gli

d Peggy, putting half a muffi

p a tree, you mea

on't let me do it, on account of my clothes. Says I'm too old, too; bother! I'm

e, you know, Peggy, I shall put on all the airs of

ce and cou

id so when I w

u elder sister. Ma always says I ought

hat is, go and see Mrs. Cheriton; and if you will le

e tie round to the front, re-tied, patted, and poked it. Then h

d? it is buttoned all crooked! Why, isn

the glass! There's sure to be something the

he buttons did not match it, and that one sleeve was put in wrong. Now she decla

knew what to say to strangers; but Margare

s to entertain and care for them, as her uncle's note had said. Both girls followed in silence, as Elizabeth led them

ce. Elizabeth opened the door

!" she said; and then sh

ure, and all. The strange lady sat in a great white armchair. She wore a gown of soft white cashmere, and her hair, and her cap, her hands, and her face, were all different shades o

She laughed, the softest little laugh, hardly more than a rustle, and held out her hand. Margaret came forward at once, sti

of each, and looked earnes

he asked. "I know that

was the timid reply from the girl who

flaxen mane. "You look like Peggy, little one! I used to

Margaret, losing all shyness before the kindly glance of those

AITH'S

as well. You are a Montfort, Margaret! You have the Montfort mouth, and chin; but

by myself, like an old fairy godmother. Sit down, my dears, and be comfortable! Here, Margaret, th

and when, five years ago, I was left alone in the world by the death of my dear only son, John Montfort, your uncle, like the good lad he is, found me out and broug

wipe her eyes;

hese pleasant rooms, in the warmest and quietest corner of the house, and here he put me, with my little maid, and my books, and my cat, and my parrot; and here I live, my de

osed it on two sides; the other two were screened by a hedge of Norway fir, twenty feet high, and solid as a wall. Over this the sunbeams poured

m?" asked the old lady, sm

are quite sure you are real, Mrs. Cheriton?" The

o see each other every day, as I hope we ar

so much! Now we really belong to some one, and we

ered Peggy. "I shall

French, and did not like English; she showed them her books, many of which were bound in white vellum or parchment. "It is a fancy of J

to hear, but Mrs. Cheriton sai

will call Janet, and she shall show you the way through my green parlour

he young ladies by the back way, and introduce them to Chiquito; and they took the

y at the sight of strangers, and bit Peggy's finger when she tried to stroke him; but at a word fr

?" asked Peggy. "He'

easant when he says that. Something out of a Spanish song, Mrs. Cheriton says it is, and

ocking his yellow eye at Peggy

d Peggy. "I think he

stery. The trees and plants had been growing for two hundred years, ever since James Montfort had left the court of Charles

no signs of age, only of careful tending and renewal. Margaret was enchanted with the flowers, for her home had been in a town, and she knew lit

t of them, and greeted them with grave politeness. He was a tal

owers?" asked Margare

which I am nursing carefully. I hope you will be often in the garden, young

aret. "I wonder if I can have seen him any

argaret; I'll race you to that big chestnut-tree!" an