The Real Charlotte. 261 



you lent me — I'm afraid I can't let you have it back for a 

 couple of months or so. Of course, I needn't tell you, poor 

 Lucy's money was only settled on me for my life, and now 

 there's some infernal delay before they can hand even the 

 interest over to me ; but, if you don't mind waiting a bit, I 

 can make it all square for you about the farm, 1 know." 



He inwardly used a stronger word than infernal as he re- 

 flected that if Charlotte had not got that promise about the 

 farm out of him when he was in a hole about money, he 

 might have been able, somehow, to get it himself now. 



" Don't mention that — don't mention that," said Char- 

 lotte, absolutely blushing a little, " it was a pleasure to me 

 to lend it to you, Roddy ; if I never saw it again I'd rather 

 that than that you should put yourself out to pay me before 

 it was convenient to you." She caught up a dress and 

 shook its folds out with unnecessary vehemence. " I won't 

 be done all night if I delay this way. Ah ! how well I re- 

 member this dress ! Poor dear Lucy got it for Fanny 

 Waller's wedding. Who'd ever think she'd have kept it for 

 all those years ! Roddy, what stock would you put on 

 Gurthnamuckla ? " 



" Dry stock," answered Lambert briefly. 



*' And how about the young horses ? You don't forget 

 the plan we had about them ? You don't mean to give it 

 up, I hope ? " 



" Oh, that's as you please," replied Lambert. He was 

 very much interested in the project, but he had no inten- 

 tion of letting Charlotte think so. 



She looked at him, reading his thoughts more clearly 

 than he would have liked, and they made her the more 

 resolved upon her own line of action. She saw herself 

 settled at Gurthnamuckla, with Roddy riding over three or 

 four times a week to see his young horses, that should graze 

 her grass and fill her renovated stables, while she, the 

 bland lady of the manor, should show what a really intelli- 

 gent woman could do at the head of affairs ; and the three 

 hundred pound debt should never be spoken of, but should 

 remain, like a brake, in readiness to descend and grip at 

 the discretion of the driver. There was no fear of his pay- 

 ing it of his own accord. He was not the rnan she took 

 him for if he paid a debt without due provocation ; he had 



