The Real Charlotte. 171 



time in reversing the engine, but by the time they had gone 

 full speed astern for five minutes, and had succeeded only 

 in lashing the water into a thick, pea-soupy foam all round 

 them, he began to feel exceedingly anxious as to their pro- 

 spects of getting off again. 



" Well, we've been and gone and done it this time," he 

 said, with a laugh that had considerably more discomfiture 

 than mirth in it ; "I expect we've got to stay here till we're 

 taken off." 



Francie looked all round the lake ; not a boat was in 

 sight, not even a cottage on the shore from which they 

 might hope for help. She was standing up, pale, now that 

 the tide of excitement had ebbed a little, and shaken by a 

 giddy remembrance of that moment when the yacht heeled 

 over and flung her into blackness. 



*' I told you you were going to drown me," she said, 

 shivering and laughing together ; " and oh — ! what in the 

 name of goodness will I say to Lady Dysart ? " 



" Oh, we'll tell her it was an accident, and she won't say 

 a word," said Hawkins with more confidence than he felt. 

 " If the worst comes to the worst I'll swim ashore and get a 

 boat." 



^^ Oh don't, don't ! you mustn't do that ! " she cried, 

 catching at his arm as if she already saw him jumping over- 

 board ; " I'd be frightened — I couldn't bear to see you — 

 don't go away from me ! " 



Her voice failed pathetically, and, bared of all their wiles, 

 her eyes besought him through the tears of a woman's terror 

 and tenderness. Hawkins looked at her with a kind of 

 ecstacy. 



" Do you care so much as all that," he said, " you silly 

 little thing ! " 



After this there was nothing to be done except sit down 

 again, and with her head on his shoulder, allow that fatal 

 anaesthetic to rob him of all considerations beyond Francie's 

 kisses. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



Dinner at BrufFwas over. It had been delayed as long as 

 possible in the belief that each moment would bring back 



