J 76 The Real Charlotte. 



" Indeed then I know it is true," answered Francie, pre- 

 paring in her agitation to plunge into the recesses of the 

 landau without any further ceremonies of farewell. 



" Well, won't you even shake hands with me ? " 



She was already in the carriage ; but at this reproach she 

 thrust an impulsive hand out of the window. " Oh, 

 gracious — ! I mean — I beg your pardon, Mr. Dysart," she 

 cried incoherently, " I — I'm awfully grateful for all your 

 kindness, and to Miss Dysart — " 



She hardly noticed how tightly he held her hand in his ; 

 but, as she was driven away, and, looking back, saw him 

 and Pamela standing on the steps, the latter holding Max 

 in her arms, and waving one of his crooked paws in token 

 of farewell, she thought to herself that it must be only out 

 of good nature they were so friendly to her ; but anyhow 

 they were fearfully nice. 



" Thank goodness ! " said Lady Dysart fervently, as she 

 moved away from the open hall-door — " thank goodness 

 that responsibility is off my hands. I began by liking the 

 creature, but never, no, never, have I seen a girl so abomin- 

 ably brought up." 



" Not much notion of the convenances, has she ? " ob- 

 served Miss Hope-Drummond, who had descended from 

 her morning task of writing many letters in a tall, square 

 hand, just in time to enjoy the sight of Francie's departure, 

 without having the trouble of saying good-bye to her. 



" Convenances I " echoed Lady Dysart, lifting her dark 

 eyes till nothing but the whites were visible ; " I don't 

 suppose she could tell you the meaning of the word. ' One 

 master passion in the breast, like Aaron's serpent, swallows 

 up the rest,' and of all the man-eaters I have ever seen, she 

 is the most cannibalistic ! " 



Miss Hope-Drummond laughed in polite appreciation, 

 and rustled crisply away towards the drawing-room. Lady 

 Dysart looked approvingly after the tall, admirably neat 

 figure, and thought, with inevitable comparison, of Francie's 

 untidy hair, and uncertainly draped skirts. She turned to 

 Christopher and Pamela, and continued, with a lowered 

 voice : 



" Do you know, even the servants are all talking about 

 her Of course, they can't help noticing what goes on." 



