338 TJie Real Charlotte. 



with me I'll give tea-parties every day, and dinners and 

 balls every night. FJl make the country prate, I can tell 

 you, and the money fly too ! " 



Her eyes were brighter than usual, and there was a fitful- 

 ness about her that stirred and jarred him, though he could 

 hardly tell why. 



" I think I'll take you with me," he said, with the im- 

 potent wrath of a lover who knows that the pain of farewell 

 will be all on his side. " I won't trust you out of my sight." 



" All right ! I'll go with you," she said, becoming half 

 serious. " I'd like to go." 



They were going slowly up hill, and the country lay bare 

 and desolate in the afternoon sun, without a human being 

 in sight. Lambert took the reins in his right hand, and put 

 his arm round her. 



" I don't believe you. I know you wouldn't care a hang 

 if I never came back — kiss me ! " She lifted her face 

 obediently, and as her eyes met his she wondered at the un- 

 happiness in them. *' I can't take you, my darling," he 

 whispered ; " I wish to God I could. I'm going to places 

 you couldn't stay at, and — and it would cost too much." 



'' Very well ; never say I didn't make you a good offer," 

 she answered, her unconquerable eyes giving him a look 

 that told she could still flirt with her husband. 



"Put my cloak on me, Roddy; the evening's getting 

 cold." 



They drove on quickly, and Lambert felt the gloom 

 settling down upon him again. He hated going away and 

 leaving Francie ; he hated his financial difficulties, and 

 their tortuous, uncertain issues; and above all, he hated 

 Hawkins. He would have given the whole world to know 

 how things had been between him and Francie last year ; 

 anything would be less intolerable than suspicion. 



The strip of grass by the roadside widened as they left 

 the rocky country, and the deep dints of galloping hoofs 

 became apparent on it. Lambert pointed to them with his 

 whip, and laughed contemptuously. 



" If I had a thick-winded pony like your friend Mr, 

 Hawkins, I wouldn't bucket her up hill in that sort of 

 way. She'd do well enough if he had the sense to take her 

 easy ; but in all my knowledge of soldiers — and I've seen a 



