102 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



several points of hound lore ; but a woman to hunt hounds ! 

 It went so entirely against the grain that the old huntsman 

 didn't hesitate to express his opinion. 



" I don't, and that's plain, ma'am." 



*' Then it's just fortunate I have served it," she said 

 gravely. " I've whipped-in for six years and hunted the 

 harriers too, and, what's more, I've caught a fox, Summers." 



"You did!" the old man exclaimed. "Well, there, I've 

 been wondering who you might be." 



" I daresay, but Ned over yonder isn't wondering." 



" Ned never says nothin' ; he's a good, quiet chap." 



" And I don't fancy you talk, Summers. Well, you re- 

 member that, according to the Will, Lavinia Badsworth has 

 to hunt the hounds." 



" And how she's goin' to do it, and afeared of them as 

 ever she can be, I don't know," Summers said. 



" But she isn't going to." 



"Then she'll lose the money and the place, and that 

 there " 



"Never mind him. Summers. The Will says Lavinia 

 Badsworth, and that is my name too." 



"And you are Mr. Charles's daughter?" Summers ex- 

 claimed, coming out of his shell. " Then that's why you 

 knows about hounds, and " 



"Yes, Summers, that's it." 



"Well, I've heard Ned say that you was terrible 

 handy " 



Lavvy held up her hand. 



" I thought Ned didn't talk," she said with a smile. 



" Oh, Ned can pass an opinion when he's asked." 



They walked back to the kennels with the hounds cluster- 

 ing round, and Ned following in the rear. 



" I shall worry your life out, Summers," Lavvy said. " I 

 have to learn the country, and the coverts, and the hounds ; 

 it's a big job." 



" 'Pon my word, if you goes at it like that, and sticks to it, 

 maybe you'll master it." 



