MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 109 



I tried to get him to scratch it out, but he wouldn't. I dare- 

 say scholarships in Persian History might be useful. Do 

 you know any Persian, auntie ? " 



" My dear, Lady T^ieodosia Booker foisted that on to me. 

 She is an antiquary and a busy woman." 



" Then why not write to her and tell her you are unable 

 to carry out her plan ? I suppose she has one. Surely it 

 cannot be a good thing to undervalue the responsibility of 

 parents by taking it off their hands." 



** It is not so much the discounting their responsibilities 

 that is aimed at as getting hold of the children and inculcat- 

 ing proper ideas into their minds," Miss Badsworth said. 



" I see, and sending them out to leaven the lump, and 

 work on the compound interest principle. I should draw 

 my pen through that, auntie. Tell me, what is the object 

 of the Servant Girls' Athletic Association ? They seem 

 strong enough to smash up a kitchen range in a week as it 

 is, at least in Cornwall they are." 



" Air and rational exercise, my dear," Miss Badsworth 

 said half-heartedly. 



" They have their bicycles and days out, better food than 

 they would get at home, why make them imagine that 

 being paid for what they do, or more often don't do, is 

 ignominious slavery ? I can't say much about rational dress, 

 auntie, I confess I don't like it, and it's not becoming, but 

 as I have thrown in my lot with you, and intend to see you 

 through your trouble, I shall have to go beyond it in the 

 matter of costume." 



" How do you mean, Lavvy ? " 



*' You see if I hunt the hounds for a month, I shall have 

 to know them and they must know me. There will be the 

 exercising and the cub-hunting, auntie ; it means a red coat, 

 and — the rest." 



" My dear Lavvy ! " 



The girl leaned back in her chair and laughed ; the ex- 

 pression on her aunt's face was too comical for words. 



" How else did you think it could be done, auntie ? " she 



