MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 173 



advice or remonstrance presently ? You may never have 

 such a chance again. You see those two men sitting there 

 below Miss Lavinia ? " (Mrs. Dickinson turned her head 

 and Jack filled her glass and had put down the bottle before 

 the lady could notice it.) " Those men are professional fox- 

 killers — it's dreadful, isn't it ? Hush ! Miss Badsworth is 

 up. 



" A dooced fine woman, mind you," said a yeoman under 

 his breath, as he thought, to his neighbour, when the first 

 words of thanks to those who had walked puppies, and had 

 offered to do so again, fell from the lips of the lady in the 

 chair. Miss Badsworth did very well, though she was some- 

 what shaken by the rapturous applause of sturdy male 

 voices when she apologised for the use of the term " master- 

 ship " as being more conventional and familiar to those 

 present than any other. 



" There are many things relating to the management of a 

 pack of foxhounds concerning which I am woefully ignorant " 

 (Major Creswell grunted), " but when I look round this table 

 I feel comforted by the belief that there are others who, 

 though their advantages are superior to mine, would be 

 equally at a loss when it came to matters of detail." ('• Hear ! 

 hear ! " and laughter. Lady Flora looked at the Major and 

 nodded.) " Amongst other things I have learnt how in- 

 debted I am to those who have walked puppies ; and whilst 

 I sincerely condole with those whose chances of special 

 recognition to-day have been ruined by the serious epidemic 

 of distemper which has prevailed so disastrously, I con- 

 gratulate those who have sent in specimens of young fox- 

 hounds which I learn from the judges are quite up to the 

 high standard for which the Cranston Hunt has been cele- 

 brated." (Cheers.) " I think I have had the pleasure of 

 already making the acquaintance of the majority of those 

 whom I may call benefactors, and if th'jre are any whom I 

 have been unable to visit as yet, I trust they will believe 

 that the omission has been caused by distance and lack of 

 time. I will read the list of the prize winners and then ask 



