The Real Charlotte. 339 



good few of them here now — I've never seen a more self- 

 sufficient jackass in the matter of horses than Hawkins. I 

 wouldn't trust him with a donkey." 



" You'd better tell him so," said Francie indifferently. 

 Lambert chose to suspect a sneer in the reply. 



" Tell him so ! " he said hotly. " I'd tell him so pretty 

 smart, if I thought there was a chance of his getting outside 

 a horse of mine. But I think it'll be a long day before that 

 happens ! " 



" Maybe he wouldn't thank you for one of your horses." 



*' No, I'll bet he wouldn't say thank you," said Lambert, 

 a thrill of anger darting to his brain. '' He's a lad that'll 

 take all he can get, and say nothing about it, and chuck it 

 away to the devil when he's done with it." 



" I'm sure I don't care what he does ! " exclaimed Francie, 

 with excusable impatience. " I wonder if he's able to 

 get into a passion about nothing, the way you're doing 

 now!" 



" It didn't look this afternoon as if you cared so little 

 about what he does ! " said Lambert, his breath coming 

 short. " May I ask if you knew he was coming, that you 

 were in such a hurry back to the house to meet him? I 

 suppose you settled it when he came to see you on Satur- 

 day." 



" Since you know all about it, there's no need for me to 

 contradict you ! " Francie flashed back. 



One part of Lambert knew that he was making a fool of 

 himself, but the other part, which was unfortunately a hun- 

 dred times the stronger, drove him on. 



'' Oh, I daresay you found it very pleasant, talking over 

 old times," he retorted, releasing the thought at last like a 

 long caged beast ; " or was he explaining how it was he got 

 tired of you ? " 



Francie sat still and dumb ; the light surface anger startled 

 out of her in a moment, and its place taken by a suffocating 

 sense of outrage and cruelty. She did not know enough 

 of love to recognise it in this hideous disguise of jealousy ; 

 she only discerned the cowardly spitefulness, and it cut 

 down to that deep place in her soul, where, since childhood, 

 had lain her trust in him. She did not say a word, and 

 Lambert went on : 



