MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 185 



" I am serious, and I was about to speak words of truth 

 and soberness." 



** You behaved shamefully at the luncheon." 



" I did ? You told me to look after Mrs. Dickinson, and 

 I did so." 



*' But you urged her on to make herself foolish." 



" How was I to know she didn't, at her age, know how 

 much champagne she could take with impunity ? Is she 

 very bad after it ? I've heard that soda water " 



Jack's solemn face was too much for Lavvy. 



" She has left Cranston," she said laughing. 



Jack's cap went high in the air to be caught deftly on the 

 point of his stick. 



" Well, don't do it again." 



" I won't ; at all events till next time." 



" Now, I want to ask an important question." 



" So do I," Jack replied, looking her in the eyes. 



"Who is Captain Majendie ? " 



Jack's countenance fell a trifle, and Lavvy noticed it, but 

 he recovered himself immediately and asked : — 



" What has he been doing ? " 



" He hasn't been doing anything, but he appears to be a 

 friend of Victor's and wants to do a great deal, in fact, to 

 be my understudy and have access to the kennels so as to 

 take on the hounds if auntie has to give them up." 



"The deuce he does ! " Jack exclaimed, at the same time 

 executing a progressive bramble shoot with his stick and 

 then looking up at the girl. " He couldn't do it." 



" Hunt the hounds ? " 



" I doubt it, but I mean be your understudy. What a 

 day's work you have had, and now here you are as fresh as 

 a daisy, and " 



" Do be sensible, Mr. Morgan, you haven't answered my 

 question about Captain Majendie." 



" Let me see, what was it ? Who is he ? I believe he 

 was a soldier officer in a cavalry regiment and left on account 

 of some little difficulty about a horse warranty. I under- 



