9© MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



those, of course, who, if they get a good account of them- 

 selves from the first, have not the moral courage to risk the 

 explosion of the theory by taking a second opinion." 



" Then it requires moral courage ? " with a side glance 

 out of the corners of her eyes. " After all, education hasn't 

 done much." 



*' Education ? Not done much ? My dear Lavvy, what 

 do you mean ? " 



'* Simply that the standard of superstition has been raised 

 thereby, not eradicated. The gipsies at Tordon Fair do good 

 business still. The poor people can tell you wonderful tales 

 of prophecies and fulfilments. You wouldn't walk under a 

 ladder, would you, auntie ? " 



" I confess I avoid doing so if possible." 



" So do I, but I confess it makes a difference if some one 

 is on it with a paint pot or something. Perhaps education, 

 or experience, ought to have the credit of sharpening one's 

 powers of discrimination ; rooks, for instance, forsake trees 

 which show signs of decay. I suppose, though, that is 

 instinct." 



The baying of hounds in the distant kennels broke the 

 stillness. Miss Lavvy sat suddenly erect and Johnnie 

 jumped down, listening with cocked ears and head on one 

 side. 



" Dear things ! How delightful it is to hear them with 

 their big voices. Dog-hounds, those, I expect," the girl 

 said. 



'' I am sure I don't know, dear," Miss Badsworth said, 

 in a tone which evidenced that the tenants of the Cranston 

 kennels had both reminded her of their existence and had 

 broken in upon a discourse in which she felt capable of 

 spreading herself. *' I wish there were no such things." 



" Now, aunt, I have always heard that you were a person 

 whom diffixulties and opposition stimulated." 



Miss Badsworth smiled ; it was a phase of her character 

 to which her adherents were used to point with pride when 

 they wanted to get something out of her, consequently she 



