MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 209 



his coverts were unavailable until after his first shooting 

 party. 



It was fortunate that these evil communications in high 

 places took little root generally ; it was also fortunate that 

 the kennels were placed in a fairly central spot and the for- 

 bidden ground near the outside, but it was equally unfortu- 

 nate that what Lady Flora Parkfield said to Jack Morgan on 

 the subject went no farther. 



It may here be noted that the Duchess, whose jointure 

 would die with her, was of opinion that were it not for the 

 rest of the Tucker impedimenta, the son would have plenty 

 of money and might be licked into shape for Lady Susan ; 

 whilst the young lady herself thought Mr. John Morgan of 

 Newnton a far preferable person. But this is rather beyond 

 the subject. 



Lavvy consulted the map, noted the coverts in proximity 

 to the forbidden land, and wondered what would happen if 

 hounds slipped away in the direction of Silas Tucker's 

 coverts at Berryhead, the immediate neighbourhood of 

 which partook of the nature of a wire entanglement. 



One good came out of evil, the spirit of antagonism arose 

 in Miss Lavvy ; she cast aside her anxieties and resolved to 

 do or die. 



A humble but staunch ally there was who had sworn 

 fealty to Miss Badsworth and her niece, an individual be- 

 longing to that race of intelligent and remarkable persons 

 to be found amongst the retinue of most hunts, entitled 

 ** runners," or "the man with the terriers". Such an one 

 was Alf Diccox, a spare, wiry man of forty, with a weather- 

 beaten countenance, keen eyes and accurately designed 

 mutton-chop whiskers closely cut. 



Nobody knew his history, or rather the history of his early 

 years ; he might have been a second horseman, or even a 

 hunt servant, but for fifteen years past he had dwelt on the 

 outskirts of Cranston village, and was at the present moment 

 a walking encyclopaedia of the Cranston country and all that 

 dwelt therein, The keepers said he was a poacher, but not 



H 



