cially the last part of it," said her uncle, smiling. "Esmond was
rather more delightful than the buttonholes, eh, Meg?"

"Well, possibly!" Margaret admitted. "He is rather more delightful than
almost anything else, isn't he? But not half so good as one's Uncle
John, when he comes home in the gloaming, with his pockets full of
bonbons and letters for his unworthy niece."

"Flatterer!" said Mr. Montfort. "Does this come of visiting Mrs. Peyton?
She used to be an adept in the art. But what do our two other Margarets
say? Has Peggy set the prairies on fire yet? She will some day, you
know."

"Do you think the mosquitoes would quite devour us if I brought the
small lamp out here? I really must read you the letters, and it is too
lovely to go in. Shall I try?"

Margaret brought the lamp, and, drawing a letter from her pocket, began
to read:

"DARLING MARGARET:

"I was so glad to get your letter. It was
splendid, and I'm going to copy out a lot of
the things you said, and pin them up by my
looking-glass. My hair _will not_ part
straight, because I have the most frightful
cowlick--

"I don't believe you care for this part, do you, Uncle John? Poor little
Peggy's difficulties are very funny sometimes."

"Why, I like it all, Meg, if you think Peggy would not mind my hearing
it. It is all sweet and wholesome, I know; but leave out anything you
think I should not hear."

"Oh, there isn't anything, really. I'll go on, if you like. Where was I?
Oh!--

"The most frightful cowlick. The reason I tried
was because you said my forehead was nice. I
hope you will not think me very vain, Margaret.
And you know, no one is wearing bangs any more,
not even curly ones. So I have put it straight
back now, and Pa likes it, and says I look like
his mother. Margaret, will you try to get me
the receipt for barley soup, the way Frances
makes it? Mother isn't well, and I thought I
would try if I could make some. I think,
Margaret, that I am going to find something I
can really do! I think it is cooking! What do
you think of that? Our cook went away to her
brother's wedding last week, and Mother was
sick, and so I tried; and Pa (I tried saying
Father, but he wouldn't let me!) said the
things tasted good, and I had a knack for
flavouring.