MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 145 



(you'll hear plenty of people tell you different) I never talk 

 — not conversation, my dear, I don't mean that, I like a 

 chat, but — you know^" 



Miss Badsworth smiled at the old lady's good-natured 

 garrulity, and had a shrewd notion that here was a trust- 

 worthy ally ; Lavvy's heart went out to her, but then, per- 

 haps, she was prejudiced in Lady Flora's favour owing to 

 words which had fallen from Jack Morgan's lips. 



" My niece, Lavinia," Miss Badsworth said, by way of 

 introduction. 



" Ha ! my dear, I trust you are a Badsworth ; a touch of 

 obstinacy — that's characteristic of Badsworths — isn't a bad 

 thing in moderation^ though it may be carried too far — 

 people call it by all sorts of names, strength of character 

 and such like. Now you must come across and shake me 

 by the hand. I can't get out of my chair as readily as I 

 could, but when I'm up I can go a long time." 



" I think I am a Badsworth all right. Lady Flora," Lavvy 

 said, taking the old lady's proffered hand. 



Lady Flora retained the girl's hand whilst her quick 

 piercing eyes looked her over. 



After they had rested on Lavvy's hair she said " Um," 

 and the colour rose in the girl's face. 



" What have you done with your curly hair, my dear ? " 

 Lady Flora asked. " Oh ! never mind ! I'm not inquisitive " 

 (as she saw that Lavvy was uncomfortable). "I'll tell you 

 how I came to hear about it. You are Charles Badsworth's 

 daughter, aren't you ? I thought so. I daresay he doesn't 

 remember playing * I spy' with Flora Cust ; he was a little 

 boy and I a big girl. Oh ! yes, I was a girl once, though 

 you mightn't think it. Well, I was over at Tod's Farm a 

 few days ago. James Edwards (Jimmy we always call him) 

 had a nice Jersey cow (I'm rather proud of my Jersey herd), 

 and we got talking after we had done business (I made him 

 give me a sovereign back, but then, of course, I knew from the 

 price he expected to have to do it), and I happened to ask him 

 if his nephew, Ned Barlow, was going to stay on here as whip, 



10 



