The Real Charlotte. 129 



" Well, Miss Dysart," said Charlotte, with a sudden burst 

 of candour, " I'll tell you frankly what it is. I'm not easy 

 in my mind about leaving that girl by herself — Francie y' 

 know — she's very young, and I suppose I may as well tell 

 the truth, and say she's very pretty." She paused for the 

 confirmation that Pamela readily gave. '' So you'll under- 

 stand now, Miss Dysart, that I feel anxious about leaving her 

 in a house by herself, and the reason I wanted to see you so 

 specially to-day was to ask if you'd do me a small favour, 

 which, being your mother's daughter, I'm sure you'll not re- 

 fuse." She looked up at Pamela, showing all her teeth. " I 

 want you to be the good angel that you always are, and 

 come in and look her up sometimes if you happen to be in 

 town." 



The lengthened prelude to this modest request might 

 have indicated to a more subtle soul than Pamela's that 

 something weightier lay behind it ; but her grey eyes met 

 Miss Mullen's restless brown ones with nothing in them ex- 

 cept kindly surprise that it was such a little thing that she 

 had been asked to do. 



" Of course I will," she answered ; ^ mamma and I will 

 have to come in about clearing away the rest of that awful 

 bazaar rubbish, and I shall be only too glad to come and 

 see her, and I hope she will come and lunch at Brufif some 

 day while you are away." 



This was not quite what Charlotte was aiming at, but still 

 it was something. 



'' You're a true friend, Miss Dysart," she said gushingly, 

 " I knew you would be ; it'll only be for a few days, at all 

 events, that I'll bother you with me poor relation ! I'm 

 sure she'll be able to amuse herself in the evenings and 

 mornings quite well, though indeed, poor child, I'm afraid 

 she'll be lonely enough ! " 



Mrs. Gascogne, putting on her gloves at the top of the 

 stairs, thought to herself that Charlotte Mullen might be 

 able to impose upon Pamela, but other people were not so 

 easily imposed on. She leaned over the staircase railing, 

 and said, " Are you aware, Pamela, that your trap is waiting 

 at the gate ? " Pamela got up, and Max, deprived of the 

 comfortable shelter of her skirts, crawled forth from under 

 ihe bench and sneaked out of the church door. " I 



I 



