MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 85 



to be a son as well as a daughter to him. I daresay you will 

 laugh, but I can be more or less of both at a pinch." 



'' So he said." 



" Dear old dad, it's just like him ; he has done his best to 

 spoil me, aunt." 



Miss Badsworth regarded her niece in silence before she 

 said : " I don't think he has succeeded, child. And so you 

 expected to find me something different from what I 

 am?" 



" How could I help it, aunt ? I had only heard of you 

 through the newspapers, and I naturally imagined you would 

 be — oh ! I won't say what I thought ; I am quite content 

 to find you the dear you are — there ! I hope you won't mind 

 my bringing Johnnie, he cannot bear me out of his sight. 

 You were looking so worried when I came in ; I hope nothing 

 serious is the matter." 



Miss Badsworth kept asking herself why she had never 

 known this girl before ; she watched the changes of her 

 countenance as she spoke ; it was a different phase of female 

 character from that to which she had been accustomed. 



''Well, my dear, as I daresay you know, your uncle's 

 Will has placed all sorts of things in my hands to which I 

 am utterly unaccustomed. I — well, I have advertised for a 

 secretary, and those are the replies that have come already." 



She pointed to the table behind her. 



Lavvy glanced at the correspondence and asked for another 

 cup of tea. 



'' Do you want a man or a woman, aunt ? " she inquired. 



" Oh, a woman, of course, my dear." 



" I should have thought a man would have been more 

 satisfactory, but what sort of work do you require from your 

 secretary ? " 



As in'duty bound. Miss Badsworth upheld her principles 

 before she gave the required information. Beyond a glimmer 

 of mirth in the brown eyes her niece made no sign. 



" Those awful books, Lavvy, you have no idea what they 

 are, and Mr. Morgan says they must be kept accurately in 



