1 82 The Real Charlotte. 



*' Look here,** said Hawkins impatiently, " what do 

 they do at these shows ? Have we got to sit here all the 

 evening ? " 



" Hush ! Look at Charlotte looking at you, and that's 

 Carrie Beattie just in front of us." 



" I didn't come here to be wedged into a corner of this 

 little beastly hole all the evening," he answered rebelliously ; 

 " can't we get out to the stairs or the garden or some- 

 thing?" 



" Mercy on us ! " exclaimed Francie, half-frightened and 

 half-delighted at his temerity. '^ Of course we can't ! 

 Why, they'll be going down to tea now in a minute — after 

 that perhaps — " 



"There won't be any perhaps about it," said Hawkins, 

 looking at her with an expression that made her blush and 

 tremble, " will there ? " 



" I don't know — not if you go away now," she murmured, 

 " I'm so afraid of Charlotte." 



" I've nowhere to go ; I only came here to see you." 



Captain Cursiter, at this moment refilling his second pipe, 

 vs^ould not have studied the fascinating pages of the Engineer 

 with such a careless rapture had he at all realised how Mr. 

 Hawkins was fulfilling his promises of amendment. 



At this juncture, however, the ringing of a bell in the hall 

 notified that tea was ready, and before Hawkins had time 

 for individual action, he found himself swept forward by his 

 hostess, and charged with the task of taking Mrs. Rattray, 

 the doctor's bride, down to the dining-room. The supply 

 of men did little more than yield a sufficiency for the 

 matrons, and after these had gone forth with due state, 

 Francie found herself in the midst of a throng of young 

 ladies following in the wake of their seniors. As she came 

 down the stairs she was aware of a tall man taking off his 

 coat in a corner of the hall, and before she reached the 

 dining-room door Mr. Lambert's hand was laid upon her 

 arm. 



CHAPTER XXVL 



Tea at Mrs. Beattie's parties was a serious meal, and, as a 

 considerable time had elapsed since any of the company, 



