kissed both girls timidly
on the cheek.

"Our fathers were own brothers," she said. "We must try to be fond of
each other. And now," she added, "let us all tell our tells, as the
children say. Rita, you shall begin. Tell us about yourself and your
home, and anything else that you will."

Rita settled herself comfortably in her chair, and looked meditatively
at the tip of her little boot.

"My home," she said, "is in Havana. My mother was a Spaniard, a San
Real. My father is Richard Montfort. My mother died three years ago, and
my father has lately married 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 the summer here. As I
have money in my own right, I was at liberty to do as I pleased; nor in
truth did my father object, but the contrary. I have never seen my
uncle."

"Nor I!" "Nor I!" exclaimed the other two.

"But I received this note from him a month ago."

She produced a note from her reticule, and read as follows.

"MY DEAR NIECE:

The thought has occurred to me that it would be well for you to
make some acquaintance with the home of your fathers. I therefore
invite you to spend the coming summer here, with the daughters of
my brothers James and Roger, to whom I have extended a similar
invitation. Business will unhappily prevent me from receiving you
in person, but my cousin and yours, Mrs. Cheriton, who resides at
Fernley, will pay you every attention.

Trusting that this plan will meet with your approval and that of
your father,

I am, my dear niece,
Your affectionate uncle,
JOHN MONTFORT."

"Well, I never!" cried Peggy, drawing a long breath. "Why, it's word for
word like my note."

"And like mine!" said Margaret.

The three notes were laid side by side, and proved to be exactly alike,
even to the brief flourish under the signature; with the one difference
that in Margaret's the words "and that of your father," were omitted.

"He must be a very methodical man!" said Margaret thoughtfully. "Isn't
it strange that none of us has ever seen him? And yet one can understand
how it has been. The other brothers, our fathers, left home when they
were quite young,--that is what Papa has told me,--and soon formed tie