

152 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



she will be here this evening. It's very cool of her not to 

 give you a loophole for escape, but after all will it not be 

 just as well that she should see for herself how occupied you 

 are and how impossible it is for you to go on with the fal- 

 lals just at present ? " 



Mrs. Dickinson was the author of the letter, the em- 

 blazoned NO had not had the effect on her which Lavvy 

 anticipated, and a desperate attempt had to be made to 

 reclaim her backsliding chieftainess. 



"It's very awkward; just now, too," Miss Badsworth 

 said ponderingly. 



You are not afraid of her, are you, auntie ? " 

 No, my dear, I don't think I'm afraid of her, but you 

 see we have been associated so closely in carrying out many 

 schemes that I hardly know what to do." 



" You'll have to stick to your guns, auntie, and there is 

 no one in the world more capable of doing so than you." 

 Miss Lavvy administered this moral pat on the back with 

 full intent. " Does she ride ? " she asked. 



** I should hardly think so," Miss Badsworth replied, 

 " though she is the sort of person who theoretically can do 

 everything. The fact is, Lavvy, she is not quite a lady, and, 

 now I come to think of it, does not possess much tact." 



" Then, auntie, be firm with her, and I will do my best and 

 see you through it." 



"I know you will, my dear; but remember, she will be 

 my guest." 



"To be sure, but by her own invitation. Oh yes, auntie, 

 we will dispense the old-time hospitality to the chance 

 wayfarer, and if the worst comes to the worst I will take 

 her for a ride and amuse her for you." (Here Miss Lavvy's 

 eyes twinkled.) "The Banker" (the Cornish Galloway) 

 "will carry her like a bird and an arm-chair combined." 



" You won't play her any tricks, Lavvy ? " 



" I'll be like a mother to her," the younger lady replied, 

 and added " as long as she treats you well." 



Like Saul of Tarsus, Mrs. Dickinson arrived at Cranston 



