MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 51 



There was no lack of information at Tordon ; it was well 

 known at the Duchy Arms that the Squire's brother was 

 dead. 



Mr. Victor Bickersdyke had been nothing loath to dis- 

 cuss the family affairs the previous evening, and Charles 

 Badsworth's prospects had waned and his own waxed rosy 

 according to the amount of alcohol taken into his system. 



*' Well, don't you go missin' the up train ! " Tom Barlow 

 had said in a fatherly tone as he had assisted his guest to 

 reach the street. 



" I shall ri — trush me," had been the reply. 



" If that there fine property goes to a sot like that it's a 

 cryin' shame, though I'm a publican who says it," was Tom's 

 comment as he watched his wife and daughter tidy up the 

 bar. 



It was over. Hugh Badsworth had been laid to rest in 

 the picturesque little churchyard at Cranston ; the last of the 

 many carriages which had attended to show the respect of 

 their owners had been driven away ; a disjointed procession 

 headed by figures in black, followed at a wide interval by the 

 hunt servants in their red coats, spotless white breeches and 

 shining boots, was wending its way by a broad footpath 

 (which the late Squire had trodden with the regularity of one 

 who sets an example) towards Cranston Lodge. 



One red coat remained beside the grave, its wearer engaged 

 in reminiscent conversation with the clerically attired sexton. 



The kennel huntsman was a short, solemn-looking man 

 of about sixty, with a weather-beaten face, quick, penetrating 

 eyes and sandy hair, which yielded its light tan (as its owner 

 would have called it) to the inevitable grey only by compul- 

 sion and a share and share alike method. 



"We shan't see his like again in this country," he said 

 prophetically, looking down and reading for the twentieth 

 time the inscription on the brass plate. 



" The other gentleman, the Squire's brother, favoured him 

 much, he quite give me a turn when I see him first ; most 



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