The Real Charlotte. 337 



me." His voice broke on the last words in a way that gave 

 them irresistible conviction. 



Francie glanced out of the window, and saw her husband 

 and Charlotte slowly approaching the house. '^ Oh, very 

 well," she said proudly, without turning her head ; " atter 

 all there's nothing to forgive." 



CHAPTER XLV 



Lambert and Francie were both very silent as they drove 

 away from Gurthnamuckla. He was the first to speak. 



" I've asked Charlotte to come over and stay with you 

 while I'm away next week I find I can't get through the 

 work in less than a fortnight, and I may be kept even longer 

 than that, because I've got to go to Dublin." 



" Asked Charlotte ! " said Francie, in a tone of equal sur- 

 prise and horror. " What on earth made you do that ? " 



" Because I didn't wish you should be left by yourself all 

 that time." 



" I think you might have spoken to me first," said 

 Francie, with deepening resentment. *' I'd twice sooner be 

 left by myself than be bothered with that old cat." 



Lambert looked quickly at her. He had come back to 

 the house with his nerves still strained from his fright about 

 the open gate, and his temper shaken by his financial diffi- 

 culties, and the unexpected discovery of Hawkins in the 

 drawing-room with his wife had not been soothing. 



" I don't choose that you should be left by yourself," he 

 said, in the masterful voice that had always, since her child- 

 hood, roused Francie's opposition. " You're a deal too 

 young to be left alone, and — " with a voluntary softening of 

 his voice — " and a deal too pretty, confound you ! ' He 

 cut viciously with his whip at a long-legged greyhound of a 

 pig that was rooting by the side of the road. 



" D'ye mean me or the pig ? " said Francie, with a laugh 

 that was still edged with defiance. 



" I mean that I'm not going to have the whole country 

 prating about you, and they would if I left you here by 

 yourself." 



" Very well, then, if you make me have Charlotte to stay 



Y 



