gS The Real Charlotte, 



Charlotte's dangerous proximity, and it also gave her an 

 opportunity of appeasing Mr. Lambert, who, as she was quite 

 aware, was not in the best of tempers. So far her nimble 

 tongue had of necessity been idle. Christopher's position 

 in the bows isolated him from all conversation of the ordi- 

 nary pitch, and Lambert had been at first too much occupied 

 with the affairs of his boat to speak to her, but now, as a 

 sharper gust nearly snatched her hat from her restraining 

 hand, he turned to her. 



"If it wasn't that you seem to enjoy having that hat blown 

 inside out every second minute," he said chillingly, " I'd 

 offer to lend you a cap." 



" What sort is it ? " demanded Francie. " If it's anything 

 like that old deerstalker thing you have on your head now, 

 I wouldn't touch it with the tongs 1 " 



Lambert's only reply was to grope under the seat with 

 one hand, and to bring out a red knitted cap of the conven- 

 tional sailoring type, which he handed to Francie without so 

 much as looking at her. Miss Fitzpatrick recognised its 

 merits with half a glance, and, promptly putting it on her 

 head, stuffed the chef-d^osuvre of the night before under the 

 seat among the deck-swabs and ends of rope that lurked 

 there. Christopher, looking aft at the moment, saw the 

 change of head-gear, and it was, perhaps, characteristic of 

 him that even while he acknowledged the appropriateness of 

 the red cap of liberty to the impertinence of the brilliant 

 face beneath it, he found himself reminded of the extra 

 supplement, in colours, of any Christmas number — indubit- 

 ably pretty, but a trifle vulgar. 



In the meantime the object of this patronising criticism, 

 feeling herself now able to give her undivided attention to 

 conversation, regarded Mr. Lambert's sulky face with open 

 amusement, and said : 



**Well, now, tell me what made you so cross all day. 

 Was it because Mrs. Lambert wasn't out ? " 



Lambert looked at her for an instant without speaking. 

 " Ready about," he called out. " Mind your head ! Lee 

 helm ! " 



The little yacht hung and staggered for a moment, and 

 then, with a diving plunge, started forward, with every sail 

 full and straining. Francie scrambled with some difficulty 



