92 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



" It's rather a pretty picture, certainly," she said, partly 

 referring to her niece's words, and partly to the girl herself 

 with the dog, who had resumed his original position on her 

 lap. " I must say, Lavvy, you are just the sort of person to 

 inspire me with confidence ; you certainly think lightly of ob- 

 stacles, I don't know whether it is from lack of experience." 



" I expect it is, auntie ; but obstacles always appear to 

 me to be intended to rouse our efforts, that is, if they are 

 worth overcoming ; if not, I should go round. There is 

 usually some way out." 



*' That's what Mr. Morgan says." 



" Does he ? He ought to know." 



" Why ? " 



" Any man who goes as he can in a strange country " 



She stopped short. 



" I didn't mean that, I meant in business ; he it was 

 who found what your father thought was a loophole in 

 that wretched codicil, in fact he thought of you." 



Miss Lavvy dropped her pocket-handkerchief and reached 

 over the arm of her chair to pick it up ; she felt her colour 

 rise. 



" Mind yourself, Johnnie," she said ; and then when she 

 had resumed her position and her equanimity, added, " I'm 

 sure it was very clever of him, auntie." 



" Well, something had to be done ; your father was very 

 strong on the necessity of not giving in without a struggle." 



''Just so. Poor Victor! " Miss Lavvy was still uncom- 

 fortable enough inwardly to trail the red herring across the 

 line. 



Miss Badsworth felt uncomfortable also. From what she 

 had seen of her nephew she certainly did not deem him a 

 very desirable person ; apart from his habit of taking more 

 than was good for him, he had assumed a position of armed 

 neutrality. It had been galling to see upon Victor Bickers- 

 dyke's face an expression of superiority. Though his 

 manner had been pleasant when he had bidden his uncle 

 and aunt adieu, there had been a sort of '* we shall meet 



