The Real Charlotte. 31 



Patrick's been doing bad business lately, and the little house 

 he's had to take at Bray is a tight fit for themselves and the 

 children ; so, as he said to me, he thought it was time for 

 Charlotte to do something for her own cousin's child and 

 no such great thanks to her either, seeing she got every 

 halfpenny the old woman had." 



Mrs. Lambert realised that she was actually carrying on 

 a conversation with her husband, and nervously cast about 

 in her mind for some response that should be both striking 

 and stimulating. 



" Well, now, if you want my opinion," she said, shutting 

 both her eyes and shaking her hecid with the peculiar arch 

 sagacity of a dull woman, ^'I wouldn't be surprised if 

 Charlotte wasn't so sorry to have her here after all. Maybe 

 she thinks she might snap up one of the officers — or there's 

 young Charley Flood — or, Roderick ! " Mrs. Lambert almost 

 giggled with delight and excitement — " I wouldn't put it 

 past Charlotte to be trying to ketch Mr. Dysart." 



Roderick laughed in a disagreeable way. 



*' I'd wish her joy of him if she got him ! A fellow that'd 

 rather stick at home there at Bruff having tea with his sister 

 than go down like any other fellow and play a game of pool 

 at the hotel ! A sort of chap that says, if you offer him a 

 whisky and soda in a friendly way, 'Th — thanks — I don't 

 c — care about anything at this t — t — time of day.' I think 

 Francie'd make him sit up ! " Mr. Lambert felt his imita- 

 tion of Christopher Dysart's voice to be a success, and the 

 shrill burst of laughter with which Mrs. Lambert greeted it 

 gave him for the moment an unusual tinge of respect for 

 her intelligence. " That's about the size of it, Lucy— 

 what ? " 



" Oh, Roderick, how comical you are ! " responded the 

 dutitul turkey hen, wiping her watery eyes; ''it reminds me 

 of the days when you used to be talking of old Mr. Mullen 

 and Charlotte fighting in the office till I'd think I was 

 listening to themselves." 



'^ God help the man that's got to fight with Charlotte, 

 anyhow ! " said Lambert, finishing his whisky and water as 

 if toasting the sentiment ; " and talking of Charlotte, Lucy, 

 you needn't mind about writing that note to her ; I'll go 

 over myself and speak to her in the morning." 



