1 82 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



Miss Badsworth smiled and patted her niece's short-cut 

 hair. " I wish I knew half as much as you do, my dear." 



" That wouldn't be much, auntie. By the way, I had an 

 interview with Victor just now." 



*' And what had he to say ? " 



*' First, he made me an offer, which is a frequent occur- 

 rence, and I refused him, which is equally frequent ; but the 

 important matter was that he has looked out our successor, 

 or rather my successor, in Captain Majendie, that gentleman 

 he brought with him. Victor took it as a matter of course 

 that you would permit his friend to have access to the kennels 

 in order that the understudy might be able to take up the 

 part in December. It seems to be all beautifully cut and 

 dried. I told Victor he had better write to you, which ap- 

 peared to astonish him very much." 



There was a flash in Lavvy's eyes, and an expression on 

 her mobile countenance which Miss Badsworth had little 

 difficulty in reading. Moreover, there was just a shadow of 

 doubt as to what her aunt would do in the girl's voice. 



" I call it a piece of gross impertinence," Miss Badsworth 

 replied in a firm, even tone. ** Who is Captain Majendie ? 

 If Victor writes to me I shall in reply tell him that I shall 

 permit no one to interfere in the kennels until I am obliged 

 to do so. I wish your father could have come up to-day, 

 Lavvy." 



" Dear old dad ! Don't you think he stayed away in order 

 to give you a perfectly free hand ? It was your first public 

 appearance as a master, auntie, and dad considers fairplay 

 one of the principal virtues." 



*' Lavvy, dear, if we do make a mess of it all we cannot 

 help it, we will do it in our own way. I trust this Captain 

 Majendie isn't going to be another thorn in our sides." 



There was just an extra tinge of colour on Lavvy's face as 

 she replied : — 



" I'll find out all about him before long, auntie." 



Lavvy adopted the role of sweet but armed neutrality as 

 she poured out tea for Mrs. Dickinson prior to her departure, 



