The Real Charlotte. 119 



narrow band of gold her own name and the date of the 

 accident. 



" Now, you see it's yours already," he said. " No, you 

 mustn't refuse it," as she tried to put it back into his hand 

 again. "There," snapping it quickly on to her wrist, "you 

 must keep it as a sign you're not angry with me." 



"It's like a policeman putting on a handcuff," said 

 Francie, with a quivering laugh. " I've often seen them 

 putting them on the drunken men at Dublin." 



"And you'll promise not to chuck over your old friends?" 

 said Lambert urgently. 



"No, I won't chuck them over," she replied, looking con- 

 fidingly at him. 



" Not for anybody ? " He weighted the question with all 

 the expression he was capable of. 



" No, not for anybody," she repeated, rather more readily 

 than he could have wished. 



" And you're sure you're not angry with me ? " he per- 

 sisted, " and you like the bangle ? " 



She had taken it off to re-examine it, and she held it up 

 to him. 



"Here, put it on me again, and don't be silly," she said, 

 the old spirit beginning to wake in her eyes. 



'• Do you remember when you were a child the way you 

 used to thank me when I gave you anything ? " he asked, 

 pressing her hand hard. 



" But I'm not a child now ! " 



Lambert, looking in her face, saw the provoking smile 

 spread like sunshine from her eyes to her lips, and, intoxi- 

 cated by it, he stooped his head and kissed her. 



Steps came running along the walk towards them, and 

 the fat face and red head of the Protestant orphan appeared 

 under the boughs of the lime-tree. 



" A messenger from Bruff s afther bringing this here, 

 Miss Francie," she panted, tendering a letter in her fingers, 

 " an' Miss Charlotte lef me word I should get tea when 

 ye'd want it, an' will I wet it now? " 



Christopher had shirked the expression of Miss Fitz- 

 Patrick's gratitude. 



