MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 41 



" It's curious, is it not ? " Jack said vaguely. " I hardly 

 know what to do. I believe I am one of the executors. Mr. 

 Hugo Badsworth once told me so." 



** You must go, of course," she said. 



" Yes, but you — I should have liked to save you the pain ; 

 it's awful breaking bad news." 



" Now, that's nice of you ; I know you would ; but don't 

 trouble about me. Dad and I have lived long enough together 

 to know one another. I am so sorry there is nothing in the 

 stable to take you back, but you will catch the express. Do 

 you know, I pity you most." 



" Good gracious ! Why ? " 



*' Because I know you have lost a good friend." 



"But I think I have found two more," Jack said, as he 

 held out his hand. 



There was a little pause before those hands parted (the 

 man on the footpath above thought it was a long one). 

 Curiously neither of the two said a word. 



Miss Badsworth turned once or twice to look at John 

 Morgan's retreating figure as he rapidly descended the hill. 

 She would have preferred to enter the house direct, but she 

 could not do so because Victor Bickersdyke barred the way. 



" Who's that, Lavvy ? " he asked. 



"A friend of mine," she answered shortly. 



"I know the chap; met him at the Duchy Arms two 

 nights ago ; drinks, I think." 



" Well, he wouldn't be the only one if he did." 



"There you go, down on me as usual; any way you seemed 

 to have an interesting confab. Tell me what it was about." 



" I shall not tell you anything I don't choose." 



" I daresay not ; perhaps you can be as obstinate as the 

 rest of the Badsworths." 



The reproach came home to the girl in a manner the 

 speaker never dreamt of; a change came over her, and her 

 voice sank as she said : — 



"Victor, I suppose I ought to tell you if you don't know 

 it — Uncle Hugo is dead !" 



