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188 WILD MARGARET,
‘And have you nearly finished’ your picture, dear?"
asked Florence.
‘* Yes,” said Margaret, dreamily, ‘‘ it is quite finished.”’
‘Oh, how splendid!’ exclaimed Florence. ‘‘ Ferdinand
will be so pleased. He is coming this evening, you know,
dear.”’
“TI did not know,” said Margaret, still absently.
~“ Ah, no, I forgot. I did not tell you; because mamma
‘ cautioned me not to say anything that might disturb you
at your work. He is coming, and rather a large party
“with him.”
Margaret, as the girl spoke, remembered noticing that
some preparations seemed to have been going on in the
villa for some days past, as if for many guests; she had
thought little of it at the time, her mind being absorbed
in her work. :
‘“‘My brother often brings some of his friends back with
him,” said Florence; "‘ they like the quietude of Florence
after the fuss and bustle of the court. How glad I shall
be to get him back, not that I have missed him so much
this time, for, you see, I have had you, dear.” .
‘‘Tam afraid I have been a very poor companion,”’ said
Margaret. -
‘*You have been the dearest, the best, and the sweetest
a girl was ever lucky enough to find!’ responded the prin-
cess, earnestly. a.
They walked up and down the terrace for some time,
talking about the prince and his many virtues, as a sister
who adores her brother will talk to her closest bosom
friend; then Margaret went to her own room. _, .
The thought of the coming influx of visitors disturbed
her; like most persons who have endured a great sor-
row, she shrank from meeting new faces, and she resolved
to keep to her own rooms, as it was understood she should
do when she pleased, while these gay people remained.
Toward evening the guests arrived, and Margaret, from
behind the curtains of her long window, saw several hand-
some carriages drive up to the great entrance, and a group
of ladies and gentlemen—most of the latter in military or
court uniforms; in their midst stood the tall figure of the
prince, towering above the rest, his handsome face. wear-
ing the grave smile of welcome, as he ushered his friends
into the house, in which were the usual stir and excite-
ment attending the arrival of a large party.
Margaret drew the lace curtains over her window, and
took up a book. Presently the dressing-bell rang, then
the dinner-bell, and soon after there came a knock at the
door. In response to her ‘‘Come in,’’ the Princess Hlor-