MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 65 



something about it ? Recollect the second whip is son of 

 Tom Barlow at Tordon. Well, he draws up this infernal 

 codicil himself and omits the words ' my niece ' just as he 

 omitted ' my sister,' or ' the before-mentioned '. That's the 

 line I should take if I were counsel for the defendant." 



" Might I suggest counsel's opinion ? " Jack said. 



** Counsel's opinion be damned — I beg your pardon. I hate 

 lawyers, and law unless it becomes an absolute necessity. 

 Brave it out, Lavinia ; that fool Victor is as likely as not to 

 drink himself to death before the end of November next." 



'* Charles, how dreadful ! " Miss Badsworth exclaimed. 



''Just what I tell hurt ; but the idiot won't listen. I say 

 brave it out, let it be tacitly understood that you intend to 

 carry out the conditions, and — well — I'll sound Lavvy. It's 

 possible you haven't a leg to stand on, Lavinia, but chance 

 it, and see what turns up. Do you know anything about 

 book-keeping ? " 



" I can keep accounts, if that is what you mean," Miss 

 Badsworth replied in a voice which showed that she felt her 

 powers were being discredited. 



" Well, it is and it isn't. Morgan tells me the accounts 

 are all in most perfect order. Estate, stables, kennels and 

 farm. Hugo kept them all himself; he must have been a 

 busy man, for I know what it is in my small way. There 

 are day-books and ledgers for each department, and every 

 year he has had them audited." 



For the first time for years Miss Badsworth felt herself 

 out of her depth. The schemes which she had undertaken, 

 or had given her countenance to, might stand or fall and no 

 one be much the worse. Treasurers had done the financial 

 work when there was any ; in fact with the exception of the 

 Society for the Abolition of Art Needlework, etc., which 

 had been thrust upon her by Lady Theodosia Booker, and 

 the Society for taking over the Responsibility of Parents, 

 the real work was off her hands. At this moment she 

 devoutly wished she had stuck only to her schemes for the 

 improvement of women's social status. Now she had to 



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