The Real Charlotte. 63 



showing disapproval it she felt it. Francie accepted her 

 cousin's displeasure philosophically, only betraying her 

 sense of the situation by the expressive eye which she 

 turned towards her companion in disgrace over the rim 

 of her tea-cup. But Mr. Hawkins rose to the occasion. 

 He gulped his tepid and bitter cup of tea with every ap- 

 pearance of enjoyment, and having arranged his small 

 moustache with a silk handkerchief, addressed himself un- 

 dauntedly to Miss Mullen. 



" Do you know, I don't believe you have ever been out 

 in our tea-kettle, Miss Mullen. Captain Cursiter and I are 

 feeling very hurt about it." 



" If you mean by '■ tea-kettle ' that steamboat thing that 

 I've seen going about the lake," replied Charlotte, making 

 an effort to resume her first attitude of suave and unruffled 

 hospitality, and at the same time to administer needed correc- 

 tion to Mr. Hawkins, " I certainly have not. I have always 

 been taught that it was manners to wait till you're asked." 



" I quite agree with you. Miss Mullen," struck in Pamela : 

 " we also thought that for a long time, but we had to give 

 it up in the end and ask ourselves ! You are much more 

 honoured than we were." 



"Oh, I say. Miss Dysart, you know it was only our 

 grovelling humility," expostulated Hawkins, " and you 

 always said it dirtied your frock and spoiled the poetry of 

 the lake. You quite put us off taking anybody out. But 

 we've pulled ourselves together now. Miss Mullen, and if 

 you and Miss Fitzpatrick will fix an afternoon to go down 

 the lake, perhaps if Miss Dysart says she's sorry we'll let her 

 come too, and even, if she's very good, bring whoever she 

 likes with her." 



Mr. Hawkins' manner towards ladies had precisely that 

 tone of self-complacent gallantry that Lady Dysart felt to be 

 so signally lacking in her own son, and it was not without its 

 effect even upon Charlotte. It is possible had she been 

 aware that this special compliment to her had been arranged 

 during the polishing of the teaspoons, it might have lost 

 some of its value ; but the thought of steaming forth with 

 the Bruff party and " th' officers," under the very noses of 

 the Lismoyle matrons, was the only point of view that 

 presented itself to her. 



