MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 119 



be stated. The brilliant sunshine and the grateful shade of 

 the wych-elm could have had nothing to do with it ; possibly 

 the mention of a weather-stained red coat may by contrast 

 have furnished the connection. 



At all events Jack smiled as though, having recovered 

 from his surprise, the facts of the case had dawned upon 

 him. 



" Miss Badsworth ! " he called after the retreating lady, 

 "you have forgotten your dog!" 



Had Lavvy been versed in the usages of young ladies 

 who can reckon their flirtations by hundreds, of course she 

 would have walked straight on and paid no heed to a 

 remark of that nature ; but the air of Cornwall no doubt 

 stimulates honesty of purpose as well as other things, so 

 she turned round to see Jack Morgan walking slowly towards 

 her leading his cob, and then she stopped and awaited him.- 

 Had he been a woman. Jack would have commenced 

 speaking at a distance, pitching his voice up so that his 

 meaning was unintelligible unless the words were repeated ; 

 being a man, he came quite close before he said : — 



" I beg ten thousand pardons. Miss Badsworth, if I have 

 unwittingly offended you. It was my obtuseness, of course, 

 which could not grasp the reason for your request, which I 

 hope you will allow was rather startling." 



His face was grave, but there was an unmistakable twinkle 

 in his eyes. Lavvy coloured, and for a moment contem- 

 plated a snub. 



Jack must have seen the impending blow, for he ex- 

 claimed : — 



*' Don't be angry with me if I am rather dense ! You 

 were right, I had not grasped the full requirements of the 

 case." 



No doubt the wise man was right when he said *' A soft 

 answer turneth away wrath ". It certainly does in a case 

 where the voice is pleasant and a smile accompanies it. 



Lavvy did the best thing she could have done — she 

 laughed. 



