12 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



Jack Morgan didn't quite know what to make of the new- 

 comer. He might have been any age under forty, dark and 

 rather good-looking, but his eyes shifted restlessly from one 

 to another of the company, which detracted from any good 

 qualities in his features. Jack wondered who he might be, 

 but came to the conclusion that he wasn't strictly sober. 



Mrs. Barlow acknowledged a familiar salute with '* Good 

 evening, Mr. Bickersdyke," but she glanced round quickly 

 at her daughter as that gentleman said, " Scotch whisky, 

 Miss Lucy, please ". 



Miss Lucy knew that the glance meant water. Mr. 

 Bickersdyke seated himself and observed Jack Morgan 

 closely ; the latter took up the conversation where it had 

 been left, and having discovered that Rockwell was only 

 three miles distant, announced his intention of walking over 

 to see the harriers next day. When Mrs. Barlow broke a 

 silence (for her spouse appeared disinclined to proceed with 

 the sporting reminiscences of an hour ago) with " How do 

 your sketches get on, Mr. Bickersdyke ? " Jack put him 

 down as an artist. 



" No better than this whisky, Mrs. Barlow ; this isn't your 

 usual tap," was the reply in a maundering voice, accom- 

 panied by an inane smile, supposed to be knowing. 



" It's Black and White, isn't it, Lucy ? " Mrs. Barlow 

 asked, and Miss Lucy said " Yes ". 



"Then give me another, there's a good girl." 



Endeavouring to occupy his attention Mrs. Barlow asked 

 where Mr. Bickersdyke had been that evening. 



" I only looked in on the Doctor for a bit." 



" Then I wouldn't have any more whisky if I were you," 

 she said persuasively. 



" Why not ? But you ain't me, you know, and I'm going 

 to ask this gentleman," nodding to Jack, "to drink with me." 



Jack aided Mrs. Barlow's efforts by saying he was much 

 obliged but didn't require to take any more that evening, in 

 fact was just going to bed. 



Thereupon Mr. Bickersdyke waxed quarrelsome, and de- 



