ii8 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



case, Mr. Morgan," she said with an attempt at dignity 

 which the distress on her face discounted. " I have made 

 what you no doubt consider an unwarrantable request ; you 

 offered to assist me, or I should not have made it. As the 

 sole executor of my uncle's Will you are necessarily aware of 

 its provisions. I am an outsider who am called in to assist 

 in carrying out those requirements, and I am going to try to 

 do it. I retract my request. Good morning ! " 



Lavvy bestowed a dignified bow on the astonished Jack 

 Morgan, and left him standing beside his cob, watching her 

 retreating figure. 



Miss Lavvy was not a young lady given to tears without 

 just cause, yet never had she been nearer them than at the 

 present moment. Humiliation, vexation, or some other ation, 

 set to work at moral fisticuffs within her, and, as was natural, 

 Jack Morgan, though he had said little or nothing, bore the 

 blame. 



There was no doubt that a promising alliance, offensive 

 and defensive, was on the verge of ruin. Well, it was not 

 the first, if history is to be credited, which had been jeopar- 

 dised by a misunderstanding. 



It so happened, however, that " the Reformer," an un- 

 biassed spectator, came to the rescue. To him there were 

 always possibilities when a man, with or without a horse, 

 was upon the scene ; but like a wise and prudent dog, when 

 there was no visible cause for activity, he was content to 

 await developments, and when the full benefits of June sun- 

 shine, tempered by the proximity of grateful shade, were 

 present, he seemed to be aware that there was no immediate 

 call for hurry. True, his mistress had risen and was walking 

 away with dignified steps, but the man with the horse re- 

 mained in statu quo ante. Consequently with head on one 

 side he considered the matter. 



Jack Morgan recovered instantly from his surprise ; " the 

 Reformer's " expression of doubt recalled much ; but why 

 it should have been associated with a certain black satin 

 blouse^ slashed with rose-colour, and a trailing skirt, cannot 



