172 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



" I wish I knew more about it/' she had said to Jack 

 Morgan. '* I am really totally ignorant of the subject which 

 will predominate." 



" Oh, never mind ; stick to generalities," Jack had replied. 

 " Keep in shallow water. If I might suggest, in proposing 

 the prize winners, couple all who have walked puppies, and 

 condole with them on the prevalence of distemper which has 

 been very rife this season, and just say that all who hunt are 

 indebted to them." 



When Miss Badsworth rose and sent a few loyal words 

 down to the far end of the tent in a clear, even and melo- 

 dious voice, the good things of this life which had been 

 dispensed were not alone responsible for the enthusiastic 

 drinking " To the King ! " 



" I'm virtually a teetotaler," Mrs. Dickinson had said to 

 Jack Morgan as he filled her glass. 



" Rubbish ! " he had replied. " There is no teetotalism 

 allowed where fox-hunting is concerned." 



" You don't say so ! " 



"I do; it's necessary, don't you know, to keep up the 

 stamina. Why, you haven't forgotten Lady Flora's home- 

 brewed ale ? " 



"What's that about me?" asked her ladyship opposite. 

 Her ears were quick enough when she chose. 



" We were just saying that without your home-brewed ale 

 Mrs. Dickinson and I should never have got home. Our 

 forefathers," he went on to his neighbour in a lower voice, 

 " always drank one, and often two, bottles of port after hunt- 

 ing ; we, their descendants, can't keep it up at that pace,, but 

 we have to do our level best." 



" Really, Mr. Morgan, it seems to me to be a dreadful state 

 of things. Consider the money that is spent. I have only 

 seen a little of it, but all those dogs and men and horses, 

 and this luncheon, just in order to terrify and kill one little 

 animal." 



" By Jove, it is, now you mention it ! " Jack exclaimed. 

 "Don't you think you could put in a few words of good 



