28o The Real Charlotte, 



began to stir among the leaves that still hung red on the 

 beech trees. Lambert insisted with paternal determination 

 that Francie should put on the extra coat that he was 

 carrying for her, and the couple who had recently passed 

 them, and whom they had now overtaken, looked at them 

 sympathetically, and were certain that they also were 

 engaged. It took some time to reach the far gate of the 

 Dargle, sauntering as they did from bend to bend of the 

 road, and stopping occasionally to look down at the river, 

 or up at the wooded height opposite, with conventional 

 expressions of admiration ; and by the time they had passed 

 down between the high evergreens at the lodge, to where 

 the car was waiting for them, Francie had heard all that 

 Lambert could tell her of Lismoyle news. She had also 

 been told what a miserable life Mr. Lambert's was, and how 

 lonely he was at Rosemount since poor Lucy's death, and 

 she knew how many young horses he had at grass on 

 Gurthnamuckla, but neither mentioned the name of Mr. 

 Hawkins. 



The day of the Dargle expedition was Tuesday, and 

 during the remainder of the week Mr. Lambert became so 

 familiar a visitor at Albatross Villa, that Bridget learned to 

 know his knock, and did not trouble herself to pull down 

 her sleeves, or finish the mouthful of bread and tea with 

 which she had left the kitchen, before she opened the door. 

 Aunt Tish did not attempt to disguise her satisfaction when 

 he was present, and rallied Francie freely in his absence ; 

 the children were quite aware of the state of affairs, having 

 indeed discussed the matter daily with Bridget ; and Uncle 

 Robert, going gloomily up to his office in Dublin, had to 

 admit to himself that Lambert was certainly paying her 

 great attention, and that after all, all things considered, it 

 would be a good thing for the girl to get a rich husband for 

 herself when she had the chance. It was rather soon after 

 his wife's death for a man to come courting, but of course 

 the wedding wouldn't come off till the twelve months were 

 up, and at the back of these reflections was the remem- 

 brance that he. Uncle Robert, was Francie's trustee, and 

 that the security in which he had invested her five hundred 

 pounds was becoming less sound than he could have 

 wished. 



