MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 197 



for the expense of keeping things up. For five hundred a 

 year I will see to all the practical part." 



The Captain was pleasant in manner when he chose, 

 could make himself agreeable as a companion, played a 

 good game of billiards and was an adept at bridge. Victor 

 said he would think the matter over, but Majendie, who 

 summed up his new friend as a weak and pliable person if 

 worked properly, went to bed well assured that it only re- 

 quired a little tact to bring matters to a satisfactory con- 

 clusion. And so it happened that within three days a 

 compact was made in writing between the two. 



"The old lady says ' No,' and she says it rather curtly. 

 She ' will authorise no person of any sort to have access to 

 the kennels, or to interfere in any way with the arrange- 

 ments she sees fit to make '. There's the letter." 



Victor handed the note to Majendie, when the latter, who 

 had rooms at the Crown and Cushion, called at Fernley 

 Cottage (which Victor had taken) tv/o days after the puppy 

 show. 



" You've put your aunt's back up somehow," Majendie 

 said as he handed the missive back. " Well, we must wait 

 and trust to getting an opening later when the hunting 

 begins. Your cousin seems to be an extraordinary young 

 woman, as full of energy as they make 'em ; but, bless 

 you, I doubt any woman standing the work even for a 

 time." 



" I shall soon alter all that when she marries me ; she's 

 a bit snubby just now, but that will all change when the 

 wheel of fortune goes round. As for setting my aunt's back 

 up, of course I have. I'm the sword of Damocles, and by 

 Jove I'll descend when the time comes. That sort of thing 

 doesn't make one one's aunt's favourite nephew." 



Majendie mentally wrote Victor down an ass, but he 

 was the key to the position ; though more abstemious than 

 he had been, there were times when he broke out after the 

 manner of his kind. He must be watched lest he killed 



