1 8 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



he patted the horse and said laughingly, "Oh, that's how 

 we do it, is it ? " 



Then he was conscious of a row of pearly teeth, a pleasant 

 smile, and an equally pleasant voice which said : — 



'' Yes, that is how we do it in these wilds. I daresay you 

 are used to something both different and better ! " 



" Well, certainly different, and only better because the 

 fences are not so close together," he replied. 



" Ah, it's not all like this ; up yonder " — pointing with her 

 whip — "it's wild enough." 



"Well, it's very delightful, that is all I can say, only it's 

 a trifle too fine and summer-like for much " 



A whistle from the master interrupted him. 



" The third whin bush from the top, Lavvy ; a little Jack, 

 he'll do." 



A touch of the horn brought all his hounds to the master, 

 and he sat and watched his daughter as she cantered across 

 in the direction indicated ; a crack of her whip but no other 

 sound came back. She held up her cap and then Charles 

 Badsworth trotted to the spot. One swing, one shrill cry 

 which sounded like a prolonged " Hey ! " and the little pack 

 were gone. 



It was a merry time for the first ten minutes. There was 

 much dodging about as usual amongst the majority of those 

 present, they knew every yard of the country and were 

 justified in relying on their experience that the hare would 

 come back after describing a circle of greater or less diameter. 

 Charles Badsworth and his daughter were in close attend- 

 ance, and Jack Morgan, being a stranger and out to enjoy 

 himself, followed suit. The working of the pack delighted 

 while their pace astonished him. 



At the end of a quarter of an hour there came a check. 



The Squire sat perfectly still watching every movement 

 of his hounds as they made a rapid cast unaided, his keen 

 eyes glanced round for any indication of the lost line. His 

 daughter, a little wide of him, did the same. 



Jack Morgan with beaming face gravitated towards her. 



