MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 49 



of their qualities of joy or terror), and the servant withdrew 

 to the door and stood at attention. He saw his mistress sit 

 suddenly erect in her chair, whilst her face became as pale 

 as death. 



" Something wrong," he said to himself, and waited. 



A minute elapsed, during which Miss Badsworth twice 

 gazed round the room with unseeing eyes. 



'' No — answer," she said at length in a hard dry voice 

 which surprised herself. 



'' Nothing wrong, mum, I hope," the butler said, his 

 curiosity taking courage from the fact that he was an old 

 servant. 



'* Mr. — Badsworth — is— dead — Roberts." 



** Well, to be sure, mum, and he that hearty but a short 

 while ago." 



" An accident." 



Roberts closed the door softly and hurried down to give 

 the important news below. 



