MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 165 



Flora keenly watched the manner of her coming. Jack 

 Morgan at a little distance as keenly observed the manner 

 of her going, and then laughed quietly to himself. 



Mrs. Dickinson, much impressed on hearing that the lady 

 on the lawn was Lady Flora Parkfield, asked the reason of 

 his mirth. 



'' Oh, nothing much," he replied, with the laughter in his 

 voice. '' You would probably not appreciate it, but I've seen 

 for the first time in my life one woman raise her hat to 

 another." 



Lavvy had omitted no detail of her role as huntsman, she 

 had raised her bowler hat and held it clear of her head for a 

 second or two as she bade Lady Flora " Good morning ". 

 Then she pulled up her pony and sat talking easily to her 

 ladyship with the butt of her whip on her thigh and the 

 upper part against her shoulder, an exact counterpart of 

 Ned and the second whip, who had taken up their positions 

 wide on either hand. 



"Good morning, my dear; I must congratulate you," 

 Lady Flora exclaimed. 



" Upon what, Lady Flora ? " Lavvy inquired, annoyed 

 with herself because her face would flush. 



"Ah, well, everything ; especially the pony, he's a picture. 

 Where did you get him ? Who's the lady yonder with 

 Jack ? " 



Lady Flora did not wait for any answers, but turned 

 round and blew a whistle, signalling something in semaphore 

 fashion to a servant who appeared in answer to the sam.mons 

 and then hurried back into the house to reappear shortly 

 with a huge blackjack and tray of glasses. 



" A Mrs. Dickinson, a friend of auntie's," Lavvy said 

 when Lady Flora faced her again. 



" Good morning, Mrs. Dickinson," her ladyship shouted. 

 "Any friend of Miss Badsworth is welcome here, her name 

 is quite sufficient introduction. Good morning. Jack! It 

 makes me wish my riding days weren't over to see you all, 

 and the hounds too, plenty of flesh to get off them, but it's 



