MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 37 



of mysterious discs, whilst a stout country girl washed down 

 the red-brick floor. 



** Good morning, Miss Badsworth," Jack exclaimed, after 

 one glance of unfeigned admiration at the picture presented. 

 *' I had no intention of intrusion, but — may I come in ? " 



** Oh ! good morning, Mr. Morgan, by all means come in. 

 I am rather proud of my domain." 



" Will you kindly intimate the same to your guardian 

 angel, ' the Reformer '. There is a sort of flaming-sword 

 arrangement in his manner, though he says nothing," Jack 

 replied. 



"Johnnie is quite aware you have permission," the girl 

 said with a smile, " don't be afraid." 



" I'm not exactly afraid " — stooping to pat the terrier, who 

 stood wagging his tail and looking up at Jack — " but it is 

 too late to take precautions when one has a piece taken out 

 of the calf of one's leg." 



" I shall have finished in a few minutes ; I must just com- 

 plete the separator and then the work will be done." 



Jack glanced at the display of butter, placed in rich yellow 

 rolls upon slate slabs, the pans of milk, the churns and vari- 

 ous appliances arranged with methodical neatness. 



" My word, Miss Badsworth, you must be up early of a 

 morning ! " he said. 



** Oh, it doesn't do to lie in bed in the country ; we should 

 never get through the day's work," was the cheerful reply. 



Then it was quite natural that Jack should require a full 

 explanation of the mechanism of the separator ; he had one 

 at home and was perfectly conversant with all its component 

 parts, but, of course, " men are deceivers ever ". It was 

 pleasant to watch the lissom white fingers as they rearranged 

 the discs, to admire the rounded arms, and every now and 

 then note the flicker in the brown eyes as their owner ex- 

 plained some intricacy which Jack's feigned obtuseness 

 would not take in. 



" Dad will be wanting his breakfast," Miss Badsworth said 

 presently, glancing at the clock which ticked busily overhead. 



