MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. loi 



the gate, leant upon it, and smiled at Summers' quaint 

 countenance. 



" I daresay I am all wrong, but I think with that lot to 

 begin with, one might get on." 



Summers looked at the hounds and then looked at the girl. 



" But you ain't wrong, you're about right," he said, lifting 

 his hat and scratching the back of his head. " Why did 

 you pick 'em ? " 



" They are more inclined to be throaty than the rest, and 

 they ought to have better noses in consequence." 



"That's what I've told the Squire scores of times ; what 

 you gains in pace you loses in nose, not but what these are 

 fast enough to gallop any horse that was ever foaled to a 

 standstill, provided they get a chance." 



" Do they ride very hard up here ? " Lavvy asked. 



" A few does, and many don't. There's the doctor from 

 Castleton, Captain Littleton, when he's down here, and one 

 or two farmers, they've spoilt more sport in their time than 

 fifty of the rest, and never know nothing about it either." 



" It must be very annoymg. What did you use to do ? " 



" / didn't do nothing, I couldn't ; but the master he used 

 to talk to them." 



** And what am I to do. Summers ? " 



" You, mi — ma'am ? " His face was a study, but Lavvy 

 looked at him gravely. 



" I'm going to hunt the hounds, Summers. Is it a very 

 difficult thing to do ? " 



"That just depends," he said doubtfully. 



" You must have begun somewhen, I suppose." 



"Yes, ma'am, I begun, but then I'd whipped-in for five 

 years before I hunted Squire Rayton's harriers. To my 

 thinking harriers is a good school ; a clever Jack hare takes 

 some catchin'." 



"And you don't think I shall get on without that appren- 

 ticeship ? " 



Summers began to feel a considerable amount of respect for 

 this young lady who had shown unexpected knowledge on 



