第43章

THE LADY CHARLOTTE

The night of the pinto's sale was a night momentous to Gwen, for then it was that the Lady Charlotte's interest in her began.

Momentous, too, to the Lady Charlotte, for it was that night that brought The Pilot into her life.

I had turned back to the fire around which the men had fallen into groups prepared to have an hour's solid delight, for the scene was full of wild and picturesque beauty to me, when The Duke came and touched me on the shoulder.

"Lady Charlotte would like to see you."

"And why, pray?"

"She wants to hear about this affair of Bill's."We went through the kitchen into the large dining-room, at one end of which was a stone chimney and fireplace.Lady Charlotte had declared that she did not much care what kind of a house the Hon.

Fred would build for her, but that she must have a fireplace.

She was very beautiful--tall, slight and graceful in every line.

There was a reserve and a grand air in her bearing that put people in awe of her.This awe I shared; but as I entered the room she welcomed me with such kindly grace that I felt quite at ease in a moment.

"Come and sit by me," she said, drawing an armchair into the circle about the fire."I want you to tell us all about a great many things.""You see what you're in for, Connor," said her husband."It is a serious business when my lady takes one in hand.""As he knows to his cost," she said, smiling and shaking her head at her husband.

"So I can testify," put in The Duke.

"Ah! I can't do anything with you," she replied, turning to him.

"Your most abject slave," he replied with a profound bow.

"If you only were," smiling at him--a little sadly, I thought--"I'd keep you out of all sorts of mischief.""Quite true, Duke," said her husband, "just look at me."The Duke gazed at him a moment or two."Wonderful!" he murmured, "what a deliverance!""Nonsense!" broke in Lady Charlotte."You are turning my mind away from my purpose.""Is it possible, do you think?" said The Duke to her husband.

"Not in the very least," he replied, "if my experience goes for anything."But Lady Charlotte turned her back upon them and said to me:

"Now, tell me first about Bill's encounter with that funny little Scotchman."Then I told her the story of Bill's bluff in my best style, imitating, as I have some small skill in doing, the manner and speech of the various actors in the scene.She was greatly amused and interested.

"And Bill has really got his share ready," she cried."It is very clever of him.""Yes," I replied, "but Bill is only the very humble instrument, the moving spirit is behind.""Oh, yes, you mean the little girl that owns the pony," she said.

"That's another thing you must tell me about.""The Duke knows more than I," I replied, shifting the burden to him; "my acquaintance is only of yesterday; his is lifelong.""Why have you never told me of her?" she demanded, turning to the Duke.

"Haven't I told you of the little Meredith girl? Surely I have,"said The Duke, hesitatingly.

"Now, you know quite well you have not, and that means you are deeply interested.Oh, I know you well," she said, severely.