62 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



a rare time, and the poultry bill would be big enough for a 

 six-days-a-week country, but it's only for a year, and you 

 could have some one at your elbow. Anyway, Victor would 

 rob you more. Don't you think you might manage that 

 month of hunting ? It's smart work, two days a week in 

 all weathers, but " 



"Charles,'* Miss Badsworth broke in, "I can't, if I 

 would." 



** Have a good first whip ; and get down and let go your 

 horse at the first fence, or something of that sort. Can you 

 ride, Lavinia ? " 



" After a fashion, but not what you would call ride. Mr. 

 Morgan, is there no way out ? " 



Jack Morgan, thus appealed to, drew a copy of the Will 

 from his pocket. 



*' I hardly know, Miss Badsworth, it's a nasty blind place, 

 with a two to one chance of a fall, still it might be a way 

 out. I don't know much of the law, but taking my own 

 case I've noticed that what applies to other people rarely 

 applies to me. I have known cases where the whole business 

 turned on the omission of a word, and then again in one 

 which appeared to be identical the judge has strongly pointed 

 out the intention, and then the case has gone the other way." 



Mr. Morgan spread the copy of the Will upon the table, 

 and pointed out that •' my sister Lavinia Badsworth," or " the 

 before-mentioned Lavinia Badsworth," was named, but that 

 in the last clause " Lavinia Badsworth," with no prefix, nor 

 words that connected her with what had gone before, was 

 deputed to hunt the hounds for one calendar month, viz., 

 the month of November. 



Charles Badsworth carefully read the codicil. Then he 

 looked up and said : — 



'* It is certainly so, but I don't think we are any forwarder ; 

 what difference does it make ? " 



*' I was thinking of Miss Lavvy," Jack said in a low voice. 



