94 l^hs Real Charlotte, 



" I don't think you need apologise for Miss Fitzpatrick," 

 he said, rather more coldly than he had yet spoken. He 

 had ceased to be amused by Miss Mullen ; eccentricity was 

 one thing, but vulgar want of reserve was another ; he 

 wondered if she discussed her cousin's affairs thus openly 

 with all her friends. 



" It's very kind of you to say so," rejoined Miss Mullen 

 eagerly, " but I know very well you're not bUnd, any more 

 than I am, and all my affection for the girl can't make me 

 shut my eyes to what's unlady-like or bad style, though 1 

 know it's not her fault." 



Christopher looked at his watch surreptitiously. 



" Now I'm delaying you in a most unwarrantable way," 

 said Charlotte, noting and interpreting the action at once, 

 ^' but I got so hot and tired runnmg about the woods that I 

 had to take a rest. I was trying to get a chance to say a 

 word to your sister about Francie to ask her to be kind to 

 her, but I daresay it'll come to the same thing now that I've 

 had a chat with you," she concluded, rising from her seat 

 and smiling with luscious affability. 



A Httle below the pond two great rocks leaned towards 

 each other, and between them a hawthorn bush had pressed 

 itself up to the light. Something like a path was trodden 

 round the rocks, and a few rags impaled on the spikes of 

 the thorn bush denoted that it marked the place of a holy 

 well. Conspicuous among these votive offerings were two 

 white rags, new and spotless, and altogether out of keeping 

 with the scraps of red flannel and dirty frieze that had been 

 left by the faithful in lieu of visiting cards for the patron 

 saint of the shrine. Christopher and Charlotte's way led 

 them within a few yards of the spot ; the latter's curiosity 

 induced her, as she passed, to examine the last contributions 

 to the thorn bush. 



" I wonder who has been tearing up their best pocket- 

 handkerchiefs for a wish ? " said Christopher, putting up his 

 eye-glass and peering at the rags. 



" Two bigger fools than the rest of them, I suppose," said 

 Miss Mullen shortly; "we'd better hurry on now, Mr. Dysart, 

 or we'll get no tea." 



She swept Christopher in front of her along the narrow 

 path before he had time to see that the last two pilgrims 



