146 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



and then we went on from one thing to another, heartily con- 

 doHng with you, my dear" (to Miss Badsworth), *' and wonder- 

 ing what had possessed poor Hugo, for he wasn't a fool by any 

 means, though he didn't alter that road. Jimmy said he 

 never saw but one woman hunt hounds, and she did it right 

 well, and that was in Cornwall. He has a brother or sister 

 at — let me see " 



" Tordon," Lavvy put in. 



" To be sure, Tordon, that's the place. Jimmy said 

 Charles Badsworth kept a pack of harriers, had an only 

 daughter — that must be you, my dear ; he described you — 

 never mind what he said — it was a pity, in his opinion, it 

 wasn't Miss Lavvy instead of her aunt ; that was the pith of 

 it. I really do feel for you, my dear " (this to Miss Badsworth), 

 ** business woman though no doubt you are, it's putting an 

 impossibility into your hands. I often think if it had fallen 

 to my lot five-and-twenty years ago, when I was more your 

 age, I should have given in ; upon my word I think I should, 

 though I hate giving in." 



" I have given in," Miss Badsworth said with a quiet 

 smile. " I couldn't very well have done anything else. I 

 am going to do as much as I possibly can, but Lavvy will 

 hunt the hounds." 



" Ah ! Bless my soul, is that so ? Hum ! But how about 

 the Will ? Stop ! Don't tell me a word unless you wish to 

 do so. I'm not inquisitive, and I may as well tell you I hate 

 gossip." 



"There is nothing to conceal that I know of; it will all 

 come out by-and-by," Miss Badsworth said ; '* but I don't 

 suppose it is generally known — I will leave the matter in 

 your hands. Lady Flora, to do just as you think fit — that the 

 special clause in my poor brother's Will stipulates that ' for 

 one calendar month from the ist of November Lavinia 

 Badsworth shall hunt the hounds '. We go upon the point 

 (for what it is worth) that ' my sister ' or ♦ the before- 

 mentioned ' is omitted." 



Lady Flora drew in her breath with a sort of whistle as 



