MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 187 



"You asked what I knew against him," Jack said, looking 

 so fixedly at the girl that in spite of all her efforts her colour 

 rose. 



She made a charming picture sitting easily on her pony 

 with a framing of sprays of delicate dog-roses and flickering 

 lights and shadows behind her. Jack took it all in, and was 

 sensible of a subtle influence which did not consist entirely 

 of the drowsy hum of insects and the scent of new-mown 

 hay ; he put his left hand on the Banker's withers, and an 

 eager smile stole over his face. 



" Look here," he said, "you are far too good for all this; 

 you will work like a slave and probably knock yourself up, 

 you have no idea of what you are undertaking. In another 

 six weeks or so, if the harvest is early, you will have to 

 begin in the small hours of the morning and go whether 

 you feel fit or not. Jack it up, Lavvy, and " 



Then the surrounding stillness was broken. A lonely 

 donkey, mindful of the hour when the cart-horses would 

 be turned out, lifted up his voice and complained because 

 in the haymaking time his companions were long in 

 coming. 



For a moment Jack Morgan felt annoyed, but the noble 

 effort, ineffectual though it was, made by Lavvy to suppress 

 her mirth was too much for him, he laughed aloud and she 

 laughed with him ; it made all the difference, the laugh — he 

 felt it — was not at him. 



" Mr. Morgan," Lavvy said, after a little pause, with a 

 peculiar pleading note in her voice, " don't make the work 

 harder for me. I want to stand by auntie, and what is more, 

 I intend to do so ; you can help me immeasurably or you can 

 hinder me." 



Jack's countenance fell, but in a moment the expression 

 changed, all the heartiness of his nature was in his voice as 

 he replied : — 



•' By the shade of Balaam, I won't do the latter." 



Lavvy gathered up her reins, stretched out her hand and 

 said " Thanks — ^Jack ! " And the Banker cantered away. 



