The Real Charlotte. 343 



Major Waller's attentions, she would have to write to 

 Roderick and decline further responsibility as a chaperone. 



They drove to Bruff two or three days afterwards, to return 

 the state visit paid by Pamela on her mother's behalf, and, 

 during some preUminary marketing in Lismoyle, they came 

 upon Hawkins walking through the town in the Rosemount 

 direction, with an air of smartness and purpose about him 

 that bespoke an afternoon call. 



" I was just going to see you," he said, looking rather 

 blank. 



" We're on our way to Bruff," replied Francie, too resolved 

 on upholding her dignity to condescend to any conventional 

 regrets. 



Mr. Hawkins looked more cheerful, and observing that 

 as he also owed a visit at Bruff this would be a good day to 

 pay it, was turning back to the barracks for his trap, when 

 Miss Mullen intervened with almost childlike impulsiveness. 



*' I declare now, it vexes my righteous soul to think of 

 your getting out a horse and trap, with two seats going a- 

 begging here. It's not my carriage, Mr. Hawkins, or I 

 promise you you should have one of them." 



Hawkins looked gratefully at her, and then uncertainly 

 at Francie. 



" He's welcome to come if he likes," said Francie frigidly, 

 thinking with a mixture of alarm and satisfaction of what 

 Roddy would say if he heard of it. 



Hawkins waited for no further invitation, and got into 

 the waggonette. A trait of character as old as humanity 

 was at this time asserting itself, with singular freshness and 

 force, in the bosom of Mr. Gerald Hawkins. He had 

 lightly taken Francie's heart in his hand, and as lightly 

 thrown it away, without plot or premeditation; but now 

 that another man had picked it up and kept it for his own, 

 he began to see it as a thing of surpassing value. He could 

 have borne with a not uninteresting regret the idea of Francie 

 languishing somewhere in the suburbs of Dublin, and would 

 even, had the chance come in his way, have flirted with her 

 in a kind and consolatory manner. But to see her here, 

 prosperous, prettier than ever, and possessing the supreme 

 attraction of having found favour in someone else's eyes, 

 was a very different affair. The old glamour took him 



