4.6 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



wrinkled across the shoulders ; for some reason she thought 

 of Peter Dickinson, an insignificant, silent little man, who 

 quietly went about his work in the city, and from force of 

 habit turned a deaf ear to his wife's philippics. 



" I can't help thinking we had better leave the men alone," 

 she said at length. " Better do one or two things well ; the 

 thin end of the wedge can do much, Mrs. Dickinson." 



" And what is the good of it unless you have the crowbar 

 ready when the time for leverage comes ?" that lady said with 

 conviction. 



" I'm afraid my mechanics are weak, I'll ring for tea." 

 Miss Badsworth rose and walked across the room. She was 

 a contrast to her visitor, tall and elegant, with well-made 

 clothes. 



" You will allow your name to be on the committee," Mrs. 

 Dickinson said with a sort of clutch that a person might 

 make upon the smooth slates of a slanting roof. "We look 

 upon you, Miss Badsworth, as one of our most influential 

 leaders ; your name would be carefully searched for, and I 

 am sure you would never imperil a good work by standing 

 aloof." 



Everybody has their weak point, and flattery told upon 

 Miss Badsworth. Mrs. Dickinson must have been aware of 

 it, for it always cost her much to bear testimony to another's 

 worth. 



Miss Badsworth rang the bell and stood for a moment 

 watching some pigeons in the square without. Mrs. Dickin- 

 son followed her gaze and took up her parable. 



" Look at that, there is an instance ; think of those inno- 

 cent birds being immured by hundreds, and then liberated 

 at Hurlingham or the Gun Club, or somewhere that men 

 may gamble on the chances of their life and death. What 

 can you think of that, Miss Badsworth ? " 



" I don't think I would work that in, if I were you, my 

 dear" (there was a little stiffness in the term of endear- 

 ment). " There is a Providence, or chance, or whatever you 

 like to call it, in the lives of most things. There are, judg- 



