124- MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



on at all you'd better take first place, but it's best not to have 

 two amertoors, if you ask me, sir." 



" No doubt you are right, Summers ; I've got a good deal 

 to do just now, and I shall have to be sort of umpire in this 

 business, worse luck." 



" I've no doubt of it, sir ; and you must remember, asking 

 your pardon, the young lady's a young lady." 



Probably Dr. Johnson at his best never said truer words. 



" There's no doubt of that, Summers, but I don't know 

 what that has to do with it." 



'* There's such a thing as human nature, Mr. Morgan " — 

 with a pronounced twinkle — '' 'twill be better to have a 

 regular servant." 



Jack Morgan gathered the old man's meaning, and it is 

 possible his conscience confirmed the ground upon which it 

 was based ; nevertheless he said : — 



'* I daresay you are right, but you are always a trifle 

 suspicious, Summers." 



" Maybe I am, sir, but it's like this : scores of times when 

 I've been coming home from hunting wondering where I'd 

 made a mistake which lost me my fox, it's come to me, 

 perhaps, when I'd a'most reached the kennel door. Well, 

 it ain't no good then as far as that day's work goes, but it 

 ain't amiss to bear it in mind. Maybe it makes a man what 

 you call suspicious, but after all he's only looking out afore- 

 hand, because he's learnt it's of no manner of use later. 

 Now, there's young Bill Sheppard, he's a smart lad, and if 

 any one could bring him up to the business, his father, old 

 Bill, could. I make bold to say, Mr. Morgan, he'd do better 

 than you." 



Jack laughed ; it was no use taking offence at Summers' 

 outspoken opinion. 



" As far as I know," he said, '' the 3'oung lady will turn 

 out as you or I should — a red coat and all that, you know." 



" And breeches and boots, and ride man-fashion ? " Sum- 

 mers asked. 

 Jack nodded. 



