The Real Charlotte. 367 



Lambert moved involuntarily, from the twitch of pain that 

 the word gave him. It was this very term that Lismoyle 

 would soon apply to him, as if he were a thieving butler or 

 a drunken coachman. 



** That's about what it will come to," he said bitterly. 

 " He was too damned considerate to tell me so to-day, but 

 he's going to do it. He's always hated me just as I have 

 hated him, and this is his chance, though God knows what's 

 given it to him." 



"You're raving!" cried Francie incredulously; "what 

 on earth would make him turn you away ? " She felt that 

 her voice was sharp and unnatural, but she could not make 

 it otherwise. The position was becoming momently more 

 horrible from the weight of unknown catastrophe, the sight 

 of her husband's suffering and the struggle to sympathise 

 with it, and the hollow disconnection between herself and 

 everything about her. 



" I can't tell you — all in a minute," he said with difificulty. 

 " Wouldn't you put your arm round my neck, Francie, as if 

 you were sorry for me? You might be sorry for me, and 

 for yourself too. We're ruined. Oh my God ! " he groaned, 

 " we're ruined ! " 



She put her arm round his neck, and pity, and a sense 

 that it was expected of her, made her kiss his forehead. At 

 the touch of her lips his sobs came suddenly and dread- 

 fully, and his arms drew her convulsively to him. She lay 

 there helpless and dry-eyed, enduring a wretchedness that 

 in some ways was comparable to his own, but never becom- 

 ing merged in the situation, never quite losing her sense of 

 repulsion at his abasement. 



" I never meant to touch a farthing of his — in the long 

 run — " he went on, recovering himself a little; "I'd have 

 paid him back every half-penny in the end — but, of course, 

 he doesn't believe that. What does he care what I say ! " 



*^ Did you borrow money from him, or what was it ? " 

 asked Francie gently. 



" Yes, I did," replied Lambert, setting his teeth ; " but I 

 didn't tell him. I was eaten up with debts, and I had to — 

 to borrow some of the estate money." It was anguish to 

 lower himself from the pedestal of riches and omnipotence 

 on which he had always posed to her, and he spoke stumb- 



