MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 203 



paused at the half-opened gate through which he was about to 

 pass, as any man worthy of the name would do, and watched 

 the three figures on horseback and the little forest of white 

 sterns which quivered like a reed bed over the patches of 

 white and black and tan which seemed to fill the narrow 

 lane around the central horse. Ned Barlow in front he 

 knew well, but who the deuce was the boy — he could scarcely 

 be more than a boy — who was in command ? The Major 

 noted a horseman in the easy but firm seat in the saddle. 



" Then Miss Badsworth is going to have a huntsman after 

 all," he muttered. 



Lavvy recognised the figure of the fussy little man. She 

 had long since got used to herself in her novel garb ; but as 

 yet, being thoroughly human, she dreaded the remarks which 

 she felt sure would be made, and the sneers which would 

 fall to her lot in the presence of others, especially of her own 

 sex. 



There was nothing for it but to brave it out and act on 

 Lady Flora's words : " Take deuced good care she wasn't 

 interfered with". Fortunately she possessed more than her 

 share of pluck, and so determined to accept the inevitable, 

 salute the Major (it never occurred to her that he might fail 

 to recognise her) and pass on. But the Fates ordered dif- 

 ferently. 



The " poof, poof" of a motor horn sounded close at hand, 

 and in front there was a sharp corner to the lane. More 

 than once Lavvy had suffered some anxiety for her hounds 

 at the reckless hands of young Sorter and others. 



"Hold hard, Ned!" she exclaimed. *' Put your horse 

 across the road ! Will you kindly open the gate, sir ? Good 

 morning," she added as coolly as she could to the Major 

 with an upward sweep of her whip in token of salutation 

 which quite deceived the old gentleman with regard to her 

 sex. 



The car was brought to a stand as near to Ned's horse as 

 that animal would permit ; but he managed to bar the way 

 until the last of the pack had passed through the gate. 



