u. Go now, or Susan D. will be trying to braid
her own hair, a thing to be avoided, I have observed."

Tea over, and Mr. Montfort seated at ease with his cigar, the children
engaged in an enchanting game of Bat (played with worn-out umbrellas,
from which the sticks had been taken: this game is to be highly
recommended where there is space for flapping and swooping), Margaret
opened her letters; reopened them, rather, for it must be confessed that
she had peeped into both while she was braiding her own hair and
changing her dress for the pretty evening gown her uncle always liked to
see.

"Peggy is actually off for school, Uncle John. It does not seem possible
that we are in September, and the summer really gone. She seems in high
spirits over it, dear child. Listen!

"DARLING DEAREST MARGARET:

"I am going to-morrow; I waited till the last
minute, so that I could tell you the last of
me. My trunk is almost all packed, and I really
think I have done it pretty well. Thank you,
ever and ever and ever so much, for the nice
things to tie up my shoes in. They are just
lovely, and so is the shoe-bag to hang against
the wall. I mean to put away every shoe just
the very minute I take it off, and not have
them kicking about the closet floor at all,
ever. And the combing-sack! Oh, Margaret, it is
a perfect beauty! Ever so much too pretty to do
my hair in, and mother says so, too, but I
shall, because you made it for me to, and think
of you all the time I am, and--

"I got a little mixed there, but you will know
what I mean, dearest Margaret. Tell Uncle John
I am so perfectly delighted with the lovely
ring, I don't know _what_ to _do_. Oh,
Margaret, you know how I always wanted a ring,
and how I used to admire that sapphire of
Rita's; and to think of having a sapphire ring
myself--why, I can hardly believe it even now!
I couldn't go to sleep for ever so long last
night, just watching it in the moonlight. Of
course I shall write to Uncle John and thank
him myself, but I couldn't wait just to let him
know how happy I was. (Margaret, if you think
he would like it, or at least wouldn't mind it,
you might give him a hug just now and say I
sent it, but don't unless you are _