i68 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



schoolmasters out of place owing to the selection of plain 

 clothes which they had made. The sportsman would have 

 noticed the peculiarly keen eyes which so frequently mark 

 the huntsman who has risen to notoriety. 



In reply to a question relating to a strong resemblance to 

 one another in various hounds present, Joe Summers had 

 stated that Mr. Badsworth had of late been very partial to 

 the Benedict blood, whereupon a brisk disquisition arose 

 upon the merits of that celebrated hound. Joe said nothing 

 until presently appealed to he remarked oracularly : — 



** Benedicts for pace, but when it comes to hunting and 

 your horse is beat, give me Caterers," and the old man 

 pointed with his whip. 



There was the sound of a gate falling to, and first one 

 hound and then another gazed wistfully in the direction of 

 the sound with sterns which fanned slowly until motion was 

 well-nigh suspended. There were anxious, expressive faces, 

 cocked ears and heads carried on one side ; in another 

 moment, to the astonishment of the strangers, they were 

 gone, and a chorus of welcoming voices came back across 

 the stretch of grass, and no sound of rebuke escaped the lips 

 of the old kennel huntsman as he calmly stood with his whip 

 under his arm. All four men w^atched the coming of a lady 

 wearing a sailor hat and long white kennel coat. They saw 

 her stop as the hounds approached her, and swing the thong 

 of her whip lightly in a semi-circle to stay the boisterous 

 torrent, then she moved on with the hounds clustering 

 round her, only an individual here or there throwing a joyous 

 tongue. 



It was a pretty picture, and it was some time before 

 Mr. Ogden-Hooper took his eyes off it and asked, "The 

 master ? " 



** No, sir, the huntsman," Joe Summers replied. 



" Bless my soul 1 You don't say so ! " Mr. Ogden-Hooper 

 remarked, and then, raising his hat, advanced to meet the 

 girl. He was not a lady's man, but Lavvy's quiet, easy 

 manner, and an entire absence of swagger, took his fancy. 



