Peggy

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PEGGY




_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._

=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._

=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, handsome cover design, $1.25.

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

=PEGGY.= The third volume in the series of which the preceding ones have
been so successful. 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. With etching frontispiece by Mercier. Tall
16mo, unique cover design on linen, gilt top, $1.00.

_Dana Estes & Company, Publishers, Boston._

[Illustration]




PEGGY

BY LAURA E. RICHARDS

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

Illustrated by ETHELDRED B. BARRY

[Illustration]

        BOSTON
        DANA ESTES & COMPANY
        PUBLISHERS




        _Copyright, 1899_
        BY DANA ESTES & COMPANY


        Colonial Press:
        Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co.
        Boston, Mass., U. S. A.




CONTENTS.


  CHAPTER                                                           PAGE

      I. A NEW WORLD                                                  11

     II. THE BOX FROM FERNLEY                                         31

    III. IN THE "GYM."                                                51

     IV. ENTER THE SCAPEGOAT                                          72

      V. TO THE RESCUE                                                89

     VI. THE OWL'S NEST                                              102

    VII. WEDDING BELLS                                               121

   VIII. BY MOONLIGHT                                                141

     IX. FACULTY MEETING AND BEDLAM                                  160

      X. TEACHER AND PUPIL                                           182

     XI. DECORATION--AND OTHER THINGS                                194

    XII. AN ADVENTURE                                                210

   XIII. PEGGY VICTRIX                                               224

    XIV. ON SPY HILL                                                 240

     XV. WHAT WAS THE MATTER WITH LOBELIA PARKINS?                   253

    XVI. THE TERROR BY NIGHT                                         268

   XVII. WAITING                                                     279

  XVIII. THE END AND THE BEGINNING                                   297




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.


      PAGE

  "'PEACE BE TO THIS DWELLING'" (p. 79)                    _Frontispiece_

  "'BERTHA, LOOK AT THIS, WILL YOU?'"                                 36

  "UP THEY WENT, HAND OVER HAND."