in a state of
aggrieved dejection, to finish her supper. A wrapper of dingy brown
replaced the green frock; she too had been crying, and her eyes were red
and swollen.

"I wish I was at home!" she said sullenly, as she ate her chicken and
buttered her roll. "I wish I hadn't come here. I knew I should have a
horrid time, but Pa made me come."

"Oh, don't say that, Peggy, dear!" said Margaret. "You are tired
to-night, and homesick, that is all; and it was very unlucky about the
dress, of course. To-morrow, when 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 garden, where
your father and mine used to play when they were boys. Hasn't your
father told you about the swing under the great chestnut-trees, and the
summer-houses, and--"

"Oh, yes!" said Peggy, her eyes brightening. "And I was to look in the
long summer-house for his initials, cut in the roof. Uncle 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 his knife that he lost his
balance, and they all tumbled down together; and Pa has the mark of the
fall now, on his forehead."

Margaret felt that the bad moment had passed.

"Tell me about your father, and all of you at home," she said. "Think! I
have never even seen a picture of Uncle James! He is tall, of course;
all the Montforts are tall."

"Miles tall," said Peggy; "with broad shoulders, and a big brown beard.
So jolly, Pa is! He is out on the farm all day, you know, and in the
evening he sits in the corner and smokes his pipe, and the boys tell him
what they have been doing, and they talk crops and cattle and pigs by
the hour together."

"The boys?" inquired Margaret. "Your brothers?"

Peggy nodded, and began to count on her fingers.

"Jim, George, Hugh, Max, and Peter, boys; Peggy, Jean, Bessie, Flora,
and Doris, girls. Oh, dear! I wish they were all here!"

"Ten whole cousins!" cried Margaret. "How rich I feel! Now you must tell
me all about them, Peggy. Is Jim the eldest?"

"Eldest and biggest!" replied Peggy, beginning on the frosted cake. "Jim
is twenty-five, and taller than Pa,--six feet four in his shoes. He has
charge of the stock, and spends most of his time on horseback. His horse
is nearly as big as an elephant, and he rides splendidly. I think you
would like Jim," she said shyly.

"I am sure I shoul