MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 27 



appear to be on friendly terms when your aunt comes down 

 about Christmas time," he said. 



*' And what is Aunt Lavinia like ? " the girl asked with 

 the smile that Jack began to think was one of the pleas- 

 antest he had ever seen. 



"Oh, she " Jack began. "I hope I shall not offend 



you — they say she has peculiar views, is a queer woman and 

 all that kind of thing ; but I call her a real good sort." 



" Then I believe she is," Miss Badsworth said heartily, 

 and Jack asked " Why ? " 



" Oh, don't ask me • why ? ' A woman is not supposed 

 to give her reasons." 



" Your aunt does, or thinks she does, but upon my word I 

 don't believe they are her convictions. I often have the 

 honour of piloting her when she comes down ; she goes 

 pretcy well, you know." 



" I see you like her, Mr. Morgan. Views or no views, 

 oblige me by describing her." 



" Now, there you have me , I'm no good at description. 

 She's tall, with a good figure, and sits nicely on her horse, 

 but she's — but she's — no more like you than she is like 

 me." 



He caught a twinkle in the brown eyes from underneath 

 the peak of the velvet cap. 



" Well, that's negative, isn't it ? I'm afraid I'm no wiser 

 than I was before. I wonder if I should get on with her." 



" Bound to ; like a house on fire. You couldn't help it; 

 why / can." 



Miss Lavvy laughed ; she couldn't remember a more plea- 

 sant ride home. Perhaps that was why they forgot to trot 

 along when opportunity offered. A male visitor, except an 

 occasional wanderer like Bickersdyke, and he was not at all 

 to Miss Badsworth's taste, was a rare phenomenon. 



" I like that terrier, he's a sportsman," Jack said, pointing 

 to the dog trotting along at the head of affairs. 



" That is my special property. 'John Knox' is his real 

 title. When a puppy himself he kept all the harrier pups 



