Three Margarets

o and l

ng ago

t three me

dista

na G. R

which was rolling along the avenue leading to Fernley House; but the occupants of the carriage paid little attention to it, each being buried in her own thoughts. The night was dark, and the carriage-lamps threw an uncertain gleam on the thr

ue!" she said, speakin

ly, "Don't you think that, as we are cousins, we might introduce

veller opposite her. "And mine!" add

d as if only awkwardness gave it a sullen tone. The third spoke with

t that we should all three be named-and yet it is not strange, after all!" she added. "Our grandmother was Margaret, and it was natura

ggy," said the second girl, still

; and she added something in an undertone about "short acq

d Rita? About myself"-she stopped and laughed-"I hardly know what t

. "And somehow, your voice sounds as if you looked like i

d to look out of the window. "I see the lights

tone-paved veranda. As the coachman opened the carriage-door, the door of the house opened too, and a cheerful light streamed out upon t

"You must be tired with your long drive. This is the library; and

, "let us stay here a little w

e was Rita had already thrown herself down in an

t. "Susan will come in ten minutes to show you the rooms, miss, and supper will be ready in

mile, the other two never glancing in

nd find out what we all look like! Suppose we begin by taking off our wraps. How delig

knot; but in a few minutes everything was off, and the th

looked as if it were trying to fly away. Her round, rosy cheeks, blue eyes, and pouting lips gave her a cherubic contour which was comically

ack gown fitting like a glove and saying "Paris" in every seam. Her hair was absolutely black, her eyes large and dark, her delicate features regular and finely cut; but

ring of the other two, her face had its own charm. Her eyes were dark gray, with violet shades in them, deepened by the long and heavy black lashes. The faint tinge of colour in her smooth cheeks was that of the wild rose; her wavy che

with an embarrassed giggle, "I hope we sh

ve never had any cousins before,-never seen any, that is, and I am really

ingers were at once extended. Holding them in her own, Margaret hesitated a

And now," she added, "let us all tell our tells, as the children say. Rita, you sh

in her chair, and looked meditati

ried again, a girl of my own age. You may imagine that I do not find home particularly attractive now, so I was glad to accept my Uncle John's invitation to spend th

I!" exclaimed

this note from h

from her reticule,

ear N

spend the coming summer here, with the daughters of my brothers James and Roger, to whom I have extended a similar invitation. Business will u

ill meet with your approv

my dea

ectionat

Montf

drawing a long breath. "Why, i

mine!" sai

even to the brief flourish under the signature; with the one differenc

ties elsewhere. Uncle John stayed with Grandfather till he died; then he went abroad, and was gone many years; and since he came back, he has lived here alone. I suppose he has grown a recluse, and does not care to see people. I know Papa often and often begged him to come and m

id Peggy, with an awkward attempt at condolenc

of her nine brothers and sisters, and their life on the great Western farm where they lived; but she was hardly under way wh

the next moment the three maidens were ascending the wide st

isted balusters!"

aid Peggy. "My! How they stare!

threw open the doors of three rooms,

young lady's from the South, and this the other young

thoughtful!" c

and formal!"

n explained. Each contained a pretty brass bedstead, a comfortable chair or two, and curtains and cushions of flowered chintz. Rita's chintz showed deep red poppies on a pale buff ground; Peggy's was blue, with buttercups and daisies scattered over it; while Margaret's-oh, Margaret's was not chintz after

n hour, if you please," said Susa