Three Margarets | Page 7

in
through the crack, though, and I saw Petie toddle in, dragging the
crutch, and saw him lay it down between them, and say, 'Brudder Hugh
send it to big brudders.' They stopped and never said another word,
only Jim gave a kind of groan. Then he kissed Petie and told him to
thank Brother Hugh; and he went out, and didn't come back for three
days. He rides off when he feels bad, and stays away on the farm
somewhere till he gets over it."
"And George?" asked Margaret.
"Oh! George just went into his room and sulked," said Peggy. "That's
his way! I do declare, he's like--" Here she stopped suddenly, for a
vision appeared in the doorway. Pale and scornful, with her great dark
eyes full of cold mockery, Rita stood gazing at them both, her
rose-coloured draperies floating around her.
"I am truly sorry," she said, "to interrupt this torrent of eloquence. I

merely wish to say that I am going to bed. Good night, chère
Marguerite! Senorita Calibana, je vous souhaite le bon soir! Continue,
I pray you, your thrilling disclosures as long as my cousin's ears can
contain them!" And with a mocking courtesy she swept away, leaving
the other two girls with an indefinable sense of guilt and disgrace. Poor
Peggy! She had been so happy, all her troubles forgotten, pouring out
her artless recital of home affairs; but now her face darkened, and she
looked sullen and unhappy again.
"Hateful thing!" she muttered. "I wish she was in Jericho!"
"Never mind, Peggy dear!" said Margaret as cheerfully as she could.
"Rita is very tired, and has a headache. It has been delightful to hear
about the brothers, and especially about Hugh; but I am sure we ought
to go to bed too. You must be quite tired out, and I am getting sleepy
myself."
She kissed her cousin affectionately, and arm in arm they went up the
great staircase.
CHAPTER III.
THE WHITE LADY OF FERNLEY.
Margaret was waked the next morning by the cheerful and persistent
song of a robin, which had perched on a twig just outside her window.
She had gone to bed in a discouraged frame of mind, and dreamed that
her two cousins had turned into lionesses, and were fighting together
over her prostrate body; but with the morning light everything seemed
to brighten, and the robin's song was a good omen.
"Thank you, Robin dear," she said aloud, as she brushed her long hair.
"I dare say everything will go well after a while, but just now, Robin, I
do assure you, things have a kittle look."
She was down first, as the night before; but Peggy soon appeared,
rubbing her eyes and looking still half asleep.

Breakfast was ready, and Peggy, at sight of the omelette and muffins,
was about to fling herself headlong into her chair; but Margaret held
her back a moment.
"Elizabeth," she said, hesitating, "is Mrs. Cheriton--is she not here? I
see you have put me at the head of the table again."
"Mrs. Cheriton seldom leaves her own rooms, miss," replied Elizabeth.
"She asked me to say that she would be glad to see the young ladies
after breakfast. And shall I call the other young lady, Miss Montfort?"
Before Margaret could reply, a clear voice was heard calling from
above, in impatient tones:
"Elizabeth! somebody! come here this moment!"
Elizabeth obeyed the imperious summons, and as she reached the foot
of the stairs, Rita's voice broke out again.
"Why has no coffee been brought to me? I never saw such carelessness.
There is no bell in my room, either, and I have been calling till I am
hoarse."
"I am very sorry, miss!" replied Elizabeth quietly. "We supposed you
would come down to breakfast with the other young ladies. Shall I
bring you a cup of tea now? There is no coffee in the house, as Mr.
Montfort never drinks it."
"No coffee!" cried Rita. "I have come to a wilderness! Well--bring the
tea! and have it strong, do you hear?" And the young Cuban swept back
into her room, and shut the door with more vehemence than good
breeding strictly allowed.
Margaret listened in distressed silence to this colloquy. Peggy giggled
and chuckled. "Aha!" she said, "I'm so glad she didn't get the coffee.
Greedy thing! Please hand me the muffins, Margaret. How small they
are! The idea of her having her breakfast in bed!" and Peggy sniffed,
and helped herself largely to marmalade.

"Perhaps her head aches still," said peace-loving Margaret.
"Don't believe a word of it!" cried Peggy. "She's used to being waited
on by darkeys, and she thinks it will be just the same here. That's all!"
Margaret thought this was probably true, but she did not say