40 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



Jack Morgan revolved many methods of breaking the 

 news, but as he ascended the hill which was in full view of 

 the house, he caught sight of the lavender frock on the very 

 path which he had trodden that morning, and withal it was 

 beside a man whose figure did not coincide with that of the 

 Squire. The wearer of the lavender frock evidently saw 

 him for she left her companion and came to the garden gate. 



"What, back again already? Have you forgotten some- 

 thing ? " she cried with a sunny smile which suddenly faded 

 as she recognised anxiety upon Jack's face. 



He wiped his forehead and asked : — 



" Is the Squire in ? " 



" He took the pony when I got back; I fear he won't be 

 here for an hour or more," she replied. " Is there something 

 the matter ? I see there is ; tell me." 



Jack looked at the anxious eyes, and he came to the 

 conclusion that they were set in a sensible, reliable face 

 belonging to a person who would neither faint nor make an 

 unnecessary fuss. All his plans were upset ; he produced 

 the telegram and handed it to Miss Badsworth with the 

 simple explanation, " It is from my manservant". 



Miss Badsworth read the telegram twice, and Jack Morgan 

 with his hat in his hand, and the cool sea-breeze fanning 

 his brow, stood and watched the subtle changes on her face. 



Several moments passed in silence, the brown eyes were 

 fixed upon the ground, only a flicker of the eyelids gave any 

 clue to what was passing within. Presently they were 

 raised, and Jack saw that they were moist, and he began to 

 get even more uncomfortable than he had been before. 



" Poor dad," she said. " He was so proud of that letter, 

 and of having sent it to early post ! " 



It was her father she thought of, his disappointment, the 

 disappointment at making an effort which should have been 

 made years before, and then being too late. The uncle 

 whose career had been cut short so suddenly was nothing 

 to her, an unknown quantity in her life, she was sorry as 

 kind-hearted people are sorry, but that was all. 



