The Real Charlotte. 5 



she left her rescuer to return the stolen property with what 

 explanations he could. Round the corner she fled, and 

 down the next street, till a convenient archway offered a 

 hiding-place, and sheltering there, she laughed, now that 

 the stress of terror was off her, till her blue eyes streamed 

 with tears. 



Presently she heard footsteps approaching, and peering 

 cautiously out, saw Lambert striding along with the four 

 Fitzpatrick children dancing round him, in their anxiety to 

 present each a separate version of the escapade. The 

 milkman was not to be seen, and Francie sallied forth to 

 meet the party, secretly somewhat abashed, but resolved to 

 bear an undaunted front before her cousins. 



The "long black mustash," so adroitly utilised by Francie 

 for the chastening of Tommy Whitty, was stretched in a 

 wide smile as she looked tentatively at its owner. " Will 

 he tell Aunt Tish ? " was the question that possessed her as 

 she entered upon her explanation. The children might be 

 trusted. Their round, white-lashed eyes had witnessed 

 many of her exploits, and their allegiance had never faltered; 

 but'*this magnificent grown-up man, who talked to Aunt 

 Tish and Uncle Robert on terms of equality, what trouble 

 might he not get her into in his stupid desire to make a 

 good story of it ? " Botheration to him ! " she thought, 

 " why couldn't he have been somebody else ? " 



Mr. Roderick Lambert marched blandly along beside 

 her, with no wish to change places with anyone agitating 

 his bosom. His handsome brown eyes rested approvingly 

 on Francie's flushed face, and the thought that mainly 

 occupied his mind was surprise that Nosey Fitzpatrick 

 should have had such a pretty daughter. He was aware of 

 Francie's diffident glances, but thought they were due to 

 his good looks and his new suit of clothes, and he became 

 even more patronising than before. At last, quite uncon- 

 sciously, he hit the dreaded point. 



" Well, and what do you think your aunt will say when 

 she hears how I found you running away in the milk-cart ? " 



" I don't know," replied Francie, getting very red. 



'* Well, what will you say to me if I don't tell her ? " 



" Oh, Mr. Lambert, sure you won't tell mamma ! " en- 

 treated the Fitzpatrick children, faithful to their leader. 



