MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 133 



It was as a tribute to her own feelings that Lavvy offered 

 an explanation. 



" I have to hunt the Cranston hounds for a limited time 

 next season ; it is a very awkward position for me to be in, 

 but I am going to try and see the matter through." 



Mr. Lappel gave one glance at the slim, well-set-up figure 

 of the girl ; her quiet manner was in strong contrast to that 

 of many of his lady customers, but there was a determination 

 about the chin which inspired him with respect. His 

 manner was genial and reassuring as he replied : — 



" Every detail shall be carried out, madam. We have the 

 hunt buttons. Will you wear corsets or not ? " 



There was something so matter-of-fact in the way the 

 question was put that there was no hesitation in Lavvy's 

 reply in the negative. 



" If you will permit me to take the necessary measure- 

 ments, I will call Miss Nicholson," Mr. Lappel said. 



In a few minutes, clad in Lady Sophy's patents, and 

 resembling something between a Spanish matadore and a 

 French fencer, the dreaded ordeal was over. 



When an hour later Lavvy emerged from the emporium 

 of Messrs. Tonsure & Co., the great perruquiers, wondering 

 what she should do with herself till it was time to join her 

 aunt, the first person she met was Jack Morgan. 



Notwithstanding the fact that she felt that every one must 

 be staring at her, she welcomed his advent as a godsend 

 and greeted him cordially, if with heightened colour. 



Jack noticed a difference in her appearance, also that she 

 was ill at ease ; he could not quite account for the one, 

 but having just looked in at Messrs. Lappel & Stock's, 

 and having received a modicum of the former's bottled-up 

 astonishment, he made a guess at the reason for the other. 



" Verrey's ? " he said cheerfully, '' Oh ! I'll pilot you in 

 time, but there is an hour to spare. Let us go and look at 

 pictures in one of these galleries." 



So they went, and under Jack's judicious treatment the 

 girl soon recovered her equanimity. 



