ght 208
XIV. Explanations 220
XV. Farewell 237

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE

Uncle John and the Young Cubans Frontispiece
Aunt Faith's Room 43
Peggy at the Bog 73
In the Garret 105
"Cuba Libre" 125
Peggy Writes Home 143
Horseback 201
Rita's Apology 227

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THREE MARGARETS.

CHAPTER I.

THE ARRIVAL.

Long ago and long ago,
And long ago still,
There dwelt three merry maidens
Upon a distant hill.

Christina G. Rossetti.

The rain was falling fast. It was a pleasant summer rain that plashed
gently on the leaves of the great elms and locusts, and tinkled
musically in the roadside puddles. Less musical was its sound as it
drummed on the top of the great landau 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 three
figures leaning back in their corners, muffled and silent. The avenue
was long,--interminably long, it seemed to one of the three travellers;
and finally the silence so oppressed her that she determined to conquer
her shyness and break it.

"What a _very_ long avenue!" she said, speaking in a low, sweet voice.

There was no reply. She hesitated a moment, and then added timidly,
"Don't you think that, as we are cousins, we might introduce ourselves
and make acquaintance? My name is Margaret Montfort."

"Why, so is mine!" exclaimed the traveller opposite her. "And mine!"
added the third, from the further corner.

The voice of the second speaker sounded as if it might be hearty, and as
if only awkwardness gave it a sullen tone. The third spoke with a soft,
languid utterance and the faintest shade of a foreign accent.

"How strange!" exclaimed the first Margaret Montfort. "Of course I knew
that we had the same surname, as our fathers were brothers; but that we
should all three be named--and y