The Real Charlotte, 203 



'^ So I see," replied Mr. Lambert, with something as near 

 a sneer as he dared. He always felt it a special unkindness 

 of Providence to have placed this young man to reign over 

 him, and the practical sentiment that it is well not to quarrel 

 with your bread and butter, had not unfrequently held him 

 back from a much-desired jibe. " I came, Francie," he 

 went on with the same portentous politeness, " to see if 

 you'd care to come for a ride with me." 



" When ? Now ? " said Francie, without much enthusiasm. 



" Oh, not unless you like," he replied in a palpably 

 offended tone. 



" Well, how d'ye know I wouldn't like ? Keep quiet 

 now, Mr. Dysart, I've another one for you to hold ! " 



" I'm afraid I must be going — " began Christopher, look- 

 ing helplessly at the billows of pink cambric which sur- 

 rounded him on the floor. Lambert's arrival had suddenly 

 made the situation seem vulgar. 



" Ah, can't you sit still now ? " said Francie, thrusting 

 another length of material into his hand, and beginning to 

 cut swiftly towards him. '' I declare you're very idle ! " 



Lambert stood silent while this went on, and then, with 

 an angry look at Francie^ he said, " I understand, then, that 

 you're not coming out riding to-day ? " 



" Do you ? " asked Francie, pinning the seam together 

 with marvellous rapidity ; " take care your understanding 

 isn't wrong ! Have you the horse down here ? " 



" Of course I have." 



" Well, I'll tell you what we'll do ; we'll have tea first, and 

 then we'll ride back with Mr. Dysart ; will that do you ? " 



" I wanted to ride in the opposite direction," said 

 Lambert; *' I had some business — " 



" Oh, bother your old business ! " interrupted Francie ; 

 " anyway, I hear her bringing in the tea." 



'' Oh, I hope you'll ride home with me," said Christopher; 

 " I hate riding by myself," 



" Much I pity you ! " said Francie, flashing a side-long 

 look at him as she went over to the tea-table ; " I sup- 

 pose you'd be frightened ! " 



" Quite so. Frightened and bored. That is what I feel 

 like when I ride by myself," said Christopher, trying to 

 eliminate from his manner the constraint that Lambert's 



