Chapter I: Front Matter

MARGARET MONTFORT

_Books by Laura E. Richards._

"Mrs. Richards has made for herself a little niche apart in the literary world, from her delicate treatment of New England village life."--_Boston Post._

THE CAPTAIN JANUARY SERIES.

=CAPTAIN JANUARY.= 16mo, cloth, 50 cents.

A charming idyl of New England coast life, whose success has been very remarkable. One reads it, is thoroughly charmed by it, tells others, and so its fame has been heralded by its readers, until to-day it is selling by the thousands, constantly enlarging the circle of its delighted admirers.

=SAME.= _Illustrated Holiday Edition._ With thirty half-tone pictures from drawings by Frank T. Merrill. 4to, cloth, $1.25.

=MELODY.= The Story of a Child. 16mo, 50 cents.

"Had there never been a 'Captain January,' 'Melody' would easily take first place."--_Boston Times._

"The quaintly pretty, touching, old-fashioned story is told with perfect grace; the few persons who belong to it are touched on with distinctness and with sympathy."--_Milwaukee Sentinel._

=SAME.= _Illustrated Holiday Edition._ With thirty half-tone pictures from drawings by Frank T. Merrill. 4to, cloth, $1.25.

=MARIE.= 16mo, 50 cents.

"Seldom has Mrs. Richards drawn a more irresistible picture, or framed one with more artistic literary adjustment."--_Boston Herald._

"A perfect literary gem."--_Boston Transcript._

=NARCISSA=, and a companion story, =IN VERONA=. 16mo, cloth, 50 cents.

"Each is a simple, touching, sweet little story of rustic New England life, full of vivid pictures of interesting character, and refreshing for its unaffected genuineness and human feeling."--_Congregationalist._

"They are the most charming stories ever written of American country life."--_New York World._

=JIM OF HELLAS; or, IN DURANCE VILE=, and a companion story, =BETHESDA POOL=. 16mo, 50 cents.

=SOME SAY=, and a companion story, =NEIGHBOURS IN CYRUS=. 16mo, 50 cents.

=ROSIN THE BEAU.= 16mo, 50 cents. A sequel to "Melody."

=ISLA HERON.= A charming prose idyl of quaint New England life. Small quarto, cloth, 75 cents.

=NAUTILUS.= A very interesting story, with illustrations; uniquely bound, small quarto, cloth, 75 cents.

=FIVE MINUTE STORIES.= A charming collection of short stories and clever poems for children. Small quarto, cloth, $1.25.

=THREE MARGARETS.= One of the most clever stories for girls that the author has written. 16mo, cloth, $1.25.

=MARGARET MONTFORT.= A new volume in the series of which "Three Margarets" was so successful as the initial volume. 16mo, cloth, handsome cover design, $1.25.

=LOVE AND ROCKS.= A charming story of one of the pleasant islands that dot the rugged Maine coast, told in the author's most graceful manner. With etching frontispiece by Mercier. Tall 16mo, unique cover design on linen, gilt top, $1.00.

_Dana Estes & Company, Publishers, Boston._

MARGARET MONTFORT

BY

LAURA E. RICHARDS

AUTHOR Of "CAPTAIN JANUARY," "MELODY,"
"QUEEN HILDEGARDE," ETC.

Illustrated by

ETHELDRED B. BARRY

BOSTON
DANA ESTES & COMPANY
PUBLISHERS

_Copyright, 1898_
BY DANA ESTES & COMPANY

Colonial Press

Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co.
Boston, U.S.A.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. PRESENT AND ABSENT 11

II. DOMESTIC 25

III. THE UNEXPECTED 44

IV. THE TRIALS OF MARGARET 61

V. A NEW TYPE 77

VI. A LESSON IN GEOGRAPHY 96

VII. THE DAUNTLESS THREE 114

VIII. THE FIRST CONQUEST 129

IX. A NEWCOMER 145

X. "I MUST HELP MYSELF" 164

XI. THE SECOND CONQUEST 179

XII. THE VOICE OF FERNLEY 195

XIII. WHO DID IT? 212

XIV. BLACK SPIRITS AND WHITE 231

XV. A DEPARTURE 249

XVI. PEACE 264

ILLUSTRATIONS.

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.