MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 169 



" Good morning," she said, with just a sHght accession of 

 colour on her face, taking" Mr. Ogden-Hooper's proffered 

 hand and bending her head in the direction of the other men 

 (she had a suspicion that they were criticising her, not as 

 a woman, but as having to do with a kennel of hounds). 

 ** I'm afraid I interrupted you," she went on, '' I meant to 

 have been here earlier but I was delayed at the last moment. 

 We ladies are new to our work, Mr. Ogden-Hooper, and as 

 you well know, there is much to be learnt." 



" Ah ! Of course I've heard, but — hounds seem to know 

 you well enough." 



" Oh, yes, we are getting on, thanks to Summers." 



The old man's hand went to his cap. 



'* Hounds weren't back in the kennel till close upon nine. 

 You must be tired, ma'am." 



The three men knew what he meant without need of ex- 

 planation, and forthwith had another surreptitious look at 

 the young lady. 



" A nice level lot of young hounds as ever I saw, we shall 

 have our work cut out to make our selection," Mr. Ogden- 

 Hooper said as they walked towards the kennel. " Will you 

 require a large entry ? " He put the question without ex- 

 pecting a definite reply from Lavvy, but, thanks to Joe 

 Summers, she could answer it. 



" Only five couples. Uncle Hugo kept more hounds than 

 he really wanted for two days a week." 



''This is a niece, then," thought Mr. Ogden-Hooper. 

 '* All the better for you," he said aloud. '' Young hounds 

 double the work. I hope you will be able to stand it." 



"I rather doubt it," Lavvy replied; "but it cannot be 

 helped, it has to be attempted." She smiled up into Mr. 

 Ogden-Hooper's grave face. 



For a short distance they proceeded in silence, then that 

 gentleman must have spoken his thoughts, for he said, 

 " I'm hanged if I don't think you'll get through with it— 

 in a way." 



"I'm glad you qualified your remarks," the girl replied. 



