1 8 The Real CJtarlotie. 



was on the point of asking for further particulars, when Miss 

 Mullen continued : 



" She's the great-great-grandmother of all me cats, and I 

 want you to immortalise her; but don't come till after 

 Monday, as I'd like to introduce you to my cousin, Miss 

 Fitzpatrick ; did you hear she was coming ?" 



" Yes, Mr. Lambert told us she was to be here next week,'* 

 said Christopher, with an indescribable expression that was 

 not quite amusement, but was something more than in- 

 telligence. 



"What did he say of her?" 



Christopher hesitated ; somehow what he remembered of 

 Mr. Lambert's conversation was of too free and easy a 

 nature for repetition to Miss Fitzpatrick's cousin. 



" He — er — seemed to think her very — er — charming in 

 all ways," he said rather lamely. 



" So it's talking of charming young ladies you and Roddy 

 Lambert are when he comes to see you on estate business ! " 

 said Charlotte archly, but with a rasp in her voice. " When 

 my poor father was your father's agent, and I used to be 

 helping him in the office, it was charming young cattle we 

 talked about, and not young ladies." 



Christopher laughed in a helpless way. 



" I wish you were at the office still. Miss Mullen ; if any- 

 one could understand the Land Act I believe it would be 

 you." 



At this moment there was an upheaval among the matrons ; 

 the long line rose and broke, and made for the grey stone 

 house whose windows were flashing back the sunhght 

 through the trees at the end of the lawn-tennis grounds. The 

 tedious skirmish with midges, and the strain of inactivity, 

 were alike over for the present, and the conscience of the 

 son of the house reminded him that he ought to take Miss 

 Mullen in to tea. 



CHAPTER IV 



There was consternation among the cats at Tally Ho 

 Lodge; a consternation mingled with righteous resentment. 

 Even the patriarchal Susan could scarcely remember the 



