PAGE

MARGARET MONTFORT _Frontispiece_

"AFTERWARDS SHE SALLIED OUT INTO THE GARDEN" 63

"'DID YOU BRING A BOOK TO READ TO ME, LITTLE GIRL?'" 84

"THE LITTLE GIRL HAD NEVER STIRRED, BUT STOOD GAZING UP
AT THE BIG MAN WHO HELD HER HANDS" 120

"MERTON WAS TEASING CHIQUITO" 153

"'WON'T YOU COME IN?'" 175

A LIVELY GHOST 247

"THE 'FLAIL OF THE DESERT'" 268

MARGARET MONTFORT.

CHAPTER I.

PRESENT AND ABSENT.

"It shall be exactly as you please, my dear!" said Mr. Montfort. "I have
no wish in the matter, save to fulfil yours. I had thought it would be
pleasanter, perhaps, to have the rooms occupied; but your feeling is
most natural, and there is no reason why you should not keep your
present room."

"Thank you, uncle!" said the girl whom he addressed as Margaret, and
whom some of my readers may have met before. "It is not that I don't
love the dear rooms, nor that it would not be a joy to be in them, for
some reasons; but,--I think, just to go and sit there every day, alone
or with you, and think about her,--it seems as if that would be easier
just now, dear uncle. You always understand, Uncle John!"

Mr. Montfort nodded, and puffed thoughtfully at his cigar. The two,
uncle and niece, were sitting on the wide verandah of Fernley House; it
was a soft, fair June evening, and the fireflies were flitting through
the trees, and one or two late birds were chirping drowsily. There were
only the two of them at Fernley now, for one day, some two months ago,
the beloved Aunt Faith had fallen quietly asleep, and passed in sleep
away from age and weakness and weariness. Margaret missed her sadly
indeed; but there was no bitterness in her grieving, and she felt all
the more need of keeping the house cheerful and bright for her uncle,
who had lost the faithful and affectionate friend who had been for years
like a second mother to him. They talked of her a great deal, of the
beauty and helpfulness of the long life that had brought so much joy to
others; just now Mr. Montfort had proposed that Margaret should occupy
the White Rooms, which had been Mrs. Cheriton's special apartments in
the great rambling house; but he did not u