2o8 The Real Charlotte. 



sociability, for something of the same reason that talking on 

 horseback is one of the pleasantest modes of converse. 

 The power of silence cuts both ways, and simplifies either 

 confidence or its reverse amazingly. It so happened, how- 

 ever, that had Lambert had the inclination to make himself 

 agreeable to his companions he could not have done so. 

 Christopher's carriage-horse trotted with the machine-like 

 steadiness of its profession, and the black mare, roused to 

 emulation, flew along beside him, ignoring the feebly 

 expressed desire of her rider that she should moderate her 

 pace. Christopher, indeed, seldom knew or cared at what 

 pace his horse was going, and was now by no means sorry 

 to find that the question of riding along with Lambert had 

 been settled for him. The rough, young chestnut was filled 

 with a vain-glory that scorned to trot, and after a great deal 

 of brilliant ramping and curveting he fell into a kind of 

 heraldic action, half-canter, half-walk, that left him more 

 and more hopelessly in the rear, and raised Lambert's 

 temper to boiling point. 



" We're gomg very fast, aren't we ? " panted Francie, try- 

 ing to push down her rebellious habit-skirt with her whip, 

 as they sped along the flat road between Lismoyle and 

 Bruff. " I'm afraid Mr. Lambert can't keep up. That's a 

 dreadfully wild horse he's riding." 



"Are we?" said Christopher vaguely. "Shall we pull 

 up ? Here, woa, you brute ! " He pulled the carriage- 

 horse into a walk, and looked at Francie with a laugh. 

 " I'm beginning to hope you're as bad a rider as I am," he 

 said sympathetically. " Let me hold your reins, while 

 you're pinning up that plait." 



" Oh, botheration take it ! Is my hair down again ? It 

 always comes down if I trot fast," bewailed Francie, putting 

 up her hands to her dishevelled hair, that sparkled like gold 

 in the sun. 



" Do you know, the first time I ever saw you, your hair 

 had come down out riding," said Christopher, looking at 

 her as he held her rein, and not giving a thought to the in- 

 timate appearance they presented to the third member of the 

 party; " if I were you I should start with it down my back." 



" Ah, nonsense, Mr. Dysart ; why would you have me 

 make a Judy of myself that way ? " 



