MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. in 



" I suppose so," her aunt replied with a sigh. 



" Auntie, I've spent two hours there this morning ; I 

 have seen every hound, and Summers and I have agreed 

 upon the necessary draft. Everything is in tip-top order." 



" My dear child ! You have ? Two hours ! I thought 

 you were resting in your bed." 



" Two classes of people cannot afford to lie in bed, auntie, 

 dairymaids and huntsmen — no doubt there are many 

 others. I've been one of the former for years, and now 

 I'm to be one of the latter. You won't mind the stables, 

 will you ? " 



Miss Badsworth's expression of worry and anxiety died 

 away and was replaced by a smile; for the first time since 

 she had entered upon her unsought duties the sense of 

 humour ret'irned. 



"If you don't look any more like a huntsman than you do 

 like a dairymaid you won't fill the bill very well, Lavvy." 



''I am afraid, auntie, you judge by appearances. Wait 

 until I have had time to study Joseph Summers ; I really 

 believe I looked rather like him in his white kennel coat." 



Whatever Miss Badsworth thought she certainly took 

 heart of grace from her niece's energetic character, and Mrs. 

 Dickinson received a letter which filled her with both indig- 

 nation and anxiety. 



