s two _e_'s, not two _a_'s. But,--Peggy dear, you
surely would not speak of a _drive_ as _elegant_!"

"Why not? I said ride, not drive, but I don't see any difference. It
_was_ elegant; you said so yourself. I don't understand what you mean,
Margaret." And Peggy looked injured, and began to hunch her shoulders
and put out her under lip; but for once Margaret, wounded in a tender
part, took no heed of the signs of coming trouble.

[Illustration: PEGGY WRITES HOME.]

"_I_ say so? Never!" she cried indignantly. "I hope I--that is, I--I
don't think the word can be used in that way, Peggy; I do not, indeed.
You speak of an elegant dress, or an elegant woman, but _not_ of an
elegant drive or an elegant sunset. The word implies something refined,
something--"

"Oh, bother!" said Peggy rudely. "I didn't come here to school, Margaret
Montfort!"

"I sometimes wonder if you ever went anywhere to school!" said Margaret;
and she took her book and went away without another word, her heart
beating high with anger and impatience.

Such affairs were short-lived, however. Margaret had too much sense and
good feeling, Peggy too much affection, to let them last. The kiss and
the kind word were not long in following, and it was to be noticed that
Rita was never allowed to find out that her two Northern cousins ever
disagreed by so much as a word. There was some unspoken bond that bade
them both make common cause before the foreign cousin whom both loved
and admired. So when Rita made her appearance beautifully dressed for
the afternoon drive or walk (for they could not have the good white
horse every day,--a fact which made the senorita chafe and rage against
John Strong more than ever), she always found smiling faces to welcome
her, and the three would go off together in high spirits, to explore
some new and lovely part of the country.

Peggy was always the driver. On their first drive John Strong had gone
with them, to the intense disgust of Rita, and the indignation of Peggy,
who, though she was very fond of the grave factotum, resented the doubt
he implied of her skill. It was a silent drive, Margaret alone
responding to the remarks of their conductor, as he pointed out this or
that beautiful view. He never went with them again, but having first
tested Peggy's powers by a _tete-a-tete_ drive with her, cheerfully
resigned the reins, and used to watch their departure with calm
approval.

"The little one makes much the best figur