Three Margarets

In Short

Laura E. Richards’s Three Margarets follows three teenage cousins—thoughtful Margaret, wild Peggy, and fiery, dramatic Rita—who come together to spend a summer at Fernley House, the country estate of their absent uncle. As they navigate their wildly different backgrounds, they face misadventures ranging from trapped bogs to hidden staircases and clandestine political schemes. Through shared dangers and gentle guidance from household elders, the girls overcome their prejudices and grow into a deep, affectionate family unit. The novel endures as a warm, charming exploration of girlhood, character-building, and reconciliation.

The Story

The story begins on a rainy summer evening as three young cousins, all named Margaret, arrive in a dark carriage at Fernley House. They have never met before, and their contrasts are immediate. Margaret Montfort, a thoughtful, educated girl who deeply misses her late father, acts as the peacemaker. Peggy, a boisterous and unrefined girl from the West, is quick-tempered and awkward, while Rita, a proud Cuban girl, treats the estate's servants with disdain and scorns her cousins' conventional ideas of duty.

Despite their friction, life at Fernley House forces the three girls together. Guided by the frail, wise invalid Aunt Faith Cheriton and a remarkably cultured gardener named John Strong, Margaret attempts to smooth the rough edges of their companionable life. Early tensions begin to break down when Rita accidentally steps into a treacherous local peat-bog. Peggy acts quickly and courageously, dragging her out of the black, slimy mud and saving her life. Impressed by Peggy's bravery, Rita embraces her, though she continues to mock English standards of decorum.

As the summer progresses, the girls explore the vast, mysterious house. They discover a hidden, narrow winding staircase behind a garret wall that leads down into their uncle's private, locked suite. Meanwhile, political tensions brew beneath the surface. Rita, fiercely devoted to the cause of Cuba libre, harbors her revolutionary brother Carlos and his friend Fernando, who are secretly attempting to collect and conceal arms. When two strange men appear at night, Margaret realizes the house is in jeopardy. Locked in her room and unwilling to wake an exhausted Peggy, Margaret summons her courage and slides down a metal gutter-spout to intercept the danger, severely injuring her hands in the process.

Her brave descent interrupts the clandestine scheme, bringing the household into the open. Uncle John Montfort returns home, revealing that he and the gardener, John Strong, have understood the situation all along. Rather than reacting with anger, Uncle John warmly forgives Rita, who is overwhelmed by remorse when she sees Margaret’s bandaged hands. Recognizing her own folly, Rita makes a dramatic, heartfelt apology.

As the summer ends, Carlos and Fernando take Rita back to her family, and Peggy prepares to return home, weeping at the thought of leaving her new sisters. Uncle John asks Margaret to remain at Fernley House as his permanent daughter and comfort, declaring the estate her forever home.

How It Unfolds

The arrival at Fernley Three cousins meet in a dark landau as it rolls up the long avenue to Fernley House on a rainy night. Margaret tries to ease the awkwardness, but Peggy immediately declares her dislike for the proud, beautiful Rita, setting the stage for household tension.

Danger at the peat-bog While wandering near the estate grounds, Rita accidentally plunges into a deadly quagmire. Peggy rushes to the rescue, hauling her cousin from the thick black mud and earning Rita's tearful, passionate gratitude despite their torn and ruinous clothing.

Exploring the garret Prompted by Aunt Faith's stories of old family ghosts and lost papers, the three girls explore the dark attic of Fernley House. Behind a wall, they discover a narrow, hidden staircase plunging down into their absent uncle's private, locked bedroom.

Fanning revolutionary flames Rita stage-manages a dramatic theatrical performance in the parlor, waving a Cuban flag and declaiming against tyranny. She hints cryptically at a secret plot involving her brother, leaving Margaret alarmed by the possibility of illegal arms trading on their uncle's property.

Escaping through the window Hearing midnight whistles and rustling silk, Margaret discovers Rita meeting dark figures outside. Locked in her room, Margaret conquers her fear of heights and slides down a twenty-foot gutter-spout, badly bloodying her hands to alert the household and stop the intruding Cubans.

Reconciliation and farewell Uncle John returns to resolve the crisis with grace, welcoming his nephews and granting a full pardon. Rita humbly kneels to beg forgiveness, overcome by Margaret’s heroic self-sacrifice, before the cousins tearfully bid each other farewell at the summer's close.

The People

• Margaret Montfort wants to honor her late father's memory and maintain harmony among her cousins. Impelled by a strong sense of duty, she struggles against her own timid nature and fear of heights. By the end of the story, her selflessness earns her a permanent home at Fernley House as Uncle John's cherished daughter.
• Peggy wants adventure, excitement, and acceptance, but her clumsy manners, poor spelling, and hot temper frequently embarrass her. Her physical courage during the bog rescue shows her true worth, and she transforms from an awkward, self-conscious girl into a loyal, loving cousin.
• Rita wants glory and victory for the Cuban revolution, driven by wild passion and national pride. Her contempt for authority and arrogance toward servants alienate those around her. Confronted by Margaret's brave sacrifice and her uncle's forgiveness, her dramatic facade breaks down into genuine repentance and affection.
• Uncle John Montfort wants to unify his estranged family under his roof. His quiet oversight and surprising capacity for mercy resolve the conflict without bitterness, allowing him to establish a loving home at Fernley.

In Its Own Voice

"I dare say everything will go well after a while, but just now, Robin, I do assure you, things have a kittle look."

Margaret confides her worries to a singing bird on her first morning at Fernley House.

"Put it in now, this moment. It will burn well, and it can do nothing else decently."

Rita expresses her dramatic disdain for Peggy's soaked, ruined hat.

"Weel I ken my ain lassie; Kind love is in her e'e!"

Uncle John quotes an old nursery song to welcome Margaret into his home forever.

What It's Really About

At its core, Three Margarets examines how character is forged through duty, empathy, and grace. The book poses fundamental questions about what constitutes true nobility: Is it found in dramatic political zeal, or in quiet, daily acts of kindness and moral courage? Through the sharp contrasts between the three cousins, Laura E. Richards contrasts superficial glamour with deep moral integrity. The narrative argues that true maturity requires recognizing one's flaws, respecting others regardless of social class, and placing the safety and comfort of family above personal pride or foolish romance.

Why Read It Today

Three Margarets offers modern readers an entertaining, cozy glimpse into late nineteenth-century youth literature, defined by its warm atmosphere and genuine emotional sincerity. Readers who enjoy classic domestic stories like Little Women will delight in the lively interplay between three utterly distinct personalities thrown into shared quarters.

The prose is straightforward and accessible, though contemporary readers may encounter a few period hurdles, such as occasional light Scottish dialect, late-1800s slang, and romanticized late-Victorian attitudes toward social class and foreign conflicts. However, these elements add historical texture rather than burdening the plot.

What lingers long after finishing the book is its satisfying depiction of growth. Richards does not present her heroines as perfect models; they blunder, throw tantrums, misspell simple words, and make foolish mistakes. Watching them conquer their shortcomings through patience, humor, and genuine sisterly affection makes Three Margarets a comforting, deeply rewarding read.