MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 155 



Lavvy created the diversion when Mrs. Dickinson, who 

 had talked herself into difficulties, " came up from her corner 

 the worse for wear ". 



** But suppose, Mr. Horner, a woman finds herself com- 

 pelled by circumstances to undertake matters for which she 

 is naturally incompetent." 



" That, my dear young lady, is hardly a case in point ; I 

 was speaking of choice ; there is no choice under the con- 

 ditions you mention." 



There was a twinkle in the Vicar's eye. 



Miss Badsworth pushed back her chair and rose. As 

 Lavvy passed him, Jack said in a low voice : " I did my 

 best to get her head up by holloaing her off the line". 



" Thanks," Lavvy replied with a smile. It must have been 

 the smile or the manner in which the word was spoken which 

 made Jack, when he closed the door, remark so cheerily : — 



" Now, Vicar, let us close up and possess our souls in 

 peace. That is the very devil of a woman," 



To which the Vicar replied : — 



" My dear Jack, she means well ; she is rather empty- 

 headed, but don't forget she was not kicked at school as you 

 and I were." 



*' Would you like a ride to-morrow morning, Mrs. Dickin- 

 son ? If you have not brought a habit with you I think we 

 can fit you out." 



Lavvy asked the question soon after the ladies had reached 

 the drawing-room. 



Mrs. Dickinson in the depths of an easy-chair, with her 

 ideas not quite so clear as they were wont to be, and possessed 

 of an unaccountable desire to go to sleep, roused herself and 

 hesitated. She did not like to say she knew nothing about 

 riding, and had never mounted anything but a donkey, and 

 that long ago when a child at the seaside. She extended a 

 hand towards "the Reformer," seated at his mistress's feet, 

 but he looked the other way, as though he were taking no 

 compliments from strangers. 



