200 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



" How little people who hunt know of the work which has 

 to be done in order to carry on the sport," Miss Badsworth 

 remarked, evidently following the train of her thoughts. " I 

 always imagined when the season came round one only had 

 to order out the hounds as one orders a carriage ; however, 

 Lavvy, I know better now. I really think 1 am becoming a 

 horsewoman. Who would imagine that you and I frequently 

 use four horses a day between us ? I must say, child, your 

 plan of personally settling the poultry claims seems satis- 

 factory." 



The fact was that both Miss Badsworth and her niece had 

 made themselves very popular by this personal settlement, 

 and though no doubt they were frequently imposed upon, on 

 the other hand a great many claims were not substantiated 

 under investigation. " Are you satisfied ? " was the invari- 

 able question when payment had been made, with the result 

 that the parties concerned usually affirmed that they were ; 

 if not the matter was gone into again. 



Lavvy had learnt the geography of most of the coverts of 

 any size, and had verified the existence of the reported litters 

 of cubs. 



"I fancy, auntie," she now said, "if people undertook 

 chimney-sweeping they would find a considerable difference 

 between doing the work and ordering in the sweep. You 

 see both agriculture and sporting matters (at least as regards 

 hounds) are worked with a view to the future, and it appears 

 to me there is a constant endeavour to provide against con- 

 tingencies ; it is certainly hard work, but I daresay in our 

 ignorance we often go a long way round." 



" I suppose so, dear, but somehow or other we have as 

 yet contrived to get there, and I really begin to find it inter- 

 esting. If it wasn't for the uncertainty of the ultimate result 

 I could go on quite contentedly ; but suppose our work all 

 goes for nothing ! " 



Miss Lavvy regarded her aunt with the twinkle which 

 made her eyes so characteristic. 



" Hasn't it ever happened to you before, auntie ? " she asked. 



