TJu Real Charlotte, 55 



thing that Christopher did not lose his heart to the wrong 

 people, but she would probably have preferred the agitation 

 of watching his progress through the most alarming flirtations 

 to the security that deprived conversation with other mothers 

 of much of its legitimate charm. 



" Well, there was Miss Fetherstone," began Pamela after 

 a moment of obvious consideration. 



" Miss Fetherstone ! " echoed Lady Dysart in her richest 

 contralto, fixing eyes of solemn reproach upon her daughter, 

 " do you suppose that for one instant I thought there was 

 anything in that ? No baby, no idiot baby, could have 

 believed in it ! " 



"Well, I don't know," said Pamela; "I think you and 

 Mrs. Waller believed in it^ at least I remember you both 

 settling what your wedding presents were to be ! " 



"/never said a word about wedding presents, it was Mrs. 

 Waller ! Of course she was anxious about her own niece, 

 just as anybody would have been under the circumstances." 

 Lady Dysart here became aware of something in Pamela's 

 expression that made her add hurriedly, " Not that / ever 

 had the faintest shadow of belief in it. Too well do I know 

 Christopher's platonic philanderings ; and you see the aftair 

 turned out just as I said it would." 



Pamela refrained from pursuing her advantage. 



" If you like I'll make him come with Evelyn and me to 

 the choir practice this afternoon," she said after a pause. 

 " Of course he'll hate it, poor boy, especially as Miss Mullen 

 wrote to me the other day and asked us to come to tea after 

 it was over." 



" Oh, yes ! " said Lady Dysart with sudden interest and 

 forgetfulness of her recent contention, "and you will see the 

 new importation whom we met with Mr. Lambert the other 

 day. What a charming young creature she looked ! * The 

 fair one with the golden locks ' was the only description for 

 her ! And yet that miserable Christopher will only say that 

 she is * chocolate-boxey ! ' Oh ! I have no patience with 

 Christopher's affectation ! " she ended, rising from her knees 

 and brushing the earth from her extensive lap with a gesture 

 of annoyance. She began to realise that the sun was hot 

 and luncheon late, and it was at this unpropitious moment 

 that Pamela, having finished the flower - bed she had 



