332 The Real Charlotte. 



sell those things now," he pointed at the three young horses, 

 " when they'll just bring three times the money this time 

 next year." 



" Oh yes," said Charlotte, " but my creditors might say it 

 was more of a sin for me not to pay my debts." 



Lambert stood still, and dug his stick into the ground, 

 and Charlotte, watching him, knew that she had put in her 

 sickle and reaped her first sheaf. 



*' All right," he said, biting his lip, " if your creditors can 

 manage to hold out till after the fair next week, I daresay by 

 selling every horse I've got I could let you have your money 

 then." As he made the offer, he trusted that its quixotic 

 heroism would make Charlotte ashamed of herself; no 

 woman could possibly expect such a sacrifice as that from a 

 man, and the event proved that he was right 



This was not the sacrifice that Miss Mullen wished for. 



" Oh, pooh, pooh, Roddy ! you needn't take me up in 

 such earnest as that," she said in her most friendly voice, 

 and Lambert congratulated himself upon his astuteness ; " I 

 only meant that if you could let me have a hundred or so in 

 the course of the next month, it would be a help to my 

 finances." 



Lambert could not bring himself to admit that he was as 

 little able to pay her one hundred as three ; at all events, a 

 month would give him time to look about him, and if he 

 made a good collection he could easily borrow it from the 

 estate account. 



*' Oh, if that's all," he answered, affecting more relief than 

 he felt, " I can let you have it in a fortnight or so." 



They were near the lake by this time, and the young 

 horses feeding by its margin flung up their heads and stared 

 in statuesque surprise at their visitors. 



"They'll not let you near them," said Charlotte, as 

 Lambert walked slowly towards them; *' they're as wild 

 as hawks. And, goodness me ! that girl's gone out of 

 the field and left the gate open ! Wait a minute till I go 

 back and shut it." 



Lambert stood and looked after her as she hastened 

 cumbrously back towards the gate, and wondered how he 

 had ever hked her, or brought himself to have any dealings 

 with her, and his eye left her quickly to follow the red 



