MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 55 



sonally administered by her for one year subsequent to my 

 decease. 



"'Second. — That the hounds, horses and estabhshment 

 for hunting the Cranston country two days a week shall be 

 personally kept up and managed by the before-mentioned 

 Lavinia Badsworth for one complete season subsequent to 

 my decease. 



'' * Third. — That for two days a week for one calendar 

 month, viz., the month of November next occurring after 

 my decease, Lavinia Badsworth shall hunt the Cranston 

 Hounds. 



" ' Failing the carrying out of these terms (except in the 

 case of illness), I bequeath to my sister Lavinia Badsworth 

 the sum of £10,000, and the residue of my estate in all and 

 every particular to my nephew Victor Bickersdyke. Signed 

 by the said, etc' " 



** If that doesn't get her out of her fads, I don't know 

 what will," Hugh Badsworth had said to himself, but of 

 course the remark was not contained in the codicil in so 

 many words. 



It is only fair to say that the majority of those below the 

 salt, so to speak, failed to grasp the meaning of the words 

 which the lawyer and their betters evidently deemed so im- 

 portant. A silence fell, though several pairs of eyes made a 

 tour of inspection in the direction of Miss Badsworth. 



A red-coated figure rose at the bottom of the room, and a 

 rugged knotty hand swept uneasily over a head which looked 

 more silvery without its cap. 



Joseph Summers hesitated for a moment whilst his keen 

 eyes travelled round the other occupants of the room as 

 they had so often done over the hounds clustered about his 

 horse ; they rested momentarily upon the picture of his dead 

 master, then fixed themselves upon the upturned face of the 

 lawyer, and his hand made an upward motion towards the 

 spot where the peak of his cap might have been. 



" Askin' your pardon, sir, would you mind reading that 

 last bit again ? " he said. 



