Margaret Montfort
Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards
eBook
(, July 8, 2018)
Mr. Montfort nodded, and puffed thought fully 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 urge the matter, and they sat in silence for a time, feeling the soft beauty of the evening wrap them round like a garment of rest. " And what have you been doing all day, while I was in town ? " asked Mr. Montfort presently. " You were not too lonely, May Margaret ? " " Oh, no, not a bit too lonely; just enough to make it very good to have one s Uncle John come back. Let me see ! After you went, I fed Chiquito, and stayed with him quite a while, talking and singing. He is so pitiful, poor old fellow! Then I took a walk, and dropped in to see how Mrs. Peyton was ; she asked me to come in the morning, you know, when I could."