MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 201 



Miss Badsworth playfully threatened her niece with her 

 riding-whip ; then she laughed. 



" Three or four months ago I would not have confessed it, 

 Lavvy, but I do now — often. I am rapidly coming to the 

 conclusion that Lady Flora's methods of dealing with de- 

 pendants and human beings in general are very practical. 

 To hear her talk who would believe the amount of real good 

 she does ? " 



" She has been at it all her life, and those quick eyes of 

 hers must have seen a great deal," Lavvy said. "Then, 

 again, she is afraid of nobody." 



The reading-room which Miss Badsworth had established 

 for the villagers and retainers had been both a boon and a 

 success, and a source of much congratulation from the 

 rector. With some feelings of pride she had mentioned it 

 to Lady Flora Parkfield. 



" My dear, I've had one for years," the old lady had re- 

 plied, " with my name and * Licensed to sell beer on the 

 premises ' over the door. I take care the beer is good, and 

 we rarely see a drunken man in the village." 



It was with this incident in her mind that Miss Badsworth 

 made the above remark to her niece. 



Charles Badsworth made one or two visits to Cranston ; 

 they were usually connected with the purchase of horses, 

 but invariably included an inspection of the kennels. On 

 these occasions Joe Summers, reticent though he was, un- 

 bent on the subject of Miss Lavvy. 



** If she's only as good with them out as she is in the 

 kennel we sha'n't do amiss," he had said. " It's a hard job 

 for a woman, but it's the wet I'm afraid'll beat her, please 

 God we have any." 



" It sometimes rains in Cornwall, Summers," Mr. Bads- 

 worth had rejoined dryly. 



The late summer slipped by ; country houses filled ; garden 

 parties came and went ; house parties were arranged for the 

 coming partridge shooting. 



With the exception of one or two thunder-showers the 



