238 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



see me. Horsey ? Not a bit of it, you might be with her 

 a whole evening and she would never mention horse or 

 hound. Like her aunt, she's a lady to the backbone. I'm 

 sorry she cannot be here, but she works too hard to keep 

 late hours, and there is to-morrow, of course." 



" But doesn't Miss Badsworth hunt the hounds to- 

 morrow ? " the Duchess asked. 



'^ Miss Badsworth is master, certainly, but I don't see 

 why she should carry the horn." 



" But the Will, you know." 



''Well, the Will mentions Lavinia Badsworth." 



" But I thought " 



" To be sure. Duchess, so have a great many more. 

 Lavinia is the name. I expect the nephew will kick up a 

 shindy, but he won't have a leg to stand on. Here is Miss 

 Badsworth, punctual as usual." 



Lady Flora stated her opinion in a firm voice which gave 

 no sign that she possessed any doubts. 



Very graceful and very handsome Miss Badsworth looked, 

 and Charles Badsworth was even more like the late Squire 

 of an evening than during the day. 



Genial and chatty as they both were, there was a certain 

 dignity about the pair which put any questions on the much- 

 ventilated subject out of the running. 



Lady Flora discussed everything except hunting, and 

 when the ladies had retired from the dining-room not even 

 Major Creswell broached the subject in Charles Badsworth's 

 presence. 



Mr. John Morgan of Newnton, on the one hand, and Mr. 

 Victor Bickersdyke on the other, were the two people who, 

 from different points of view, regarded the coming of the 

 opening day with special interest. 



Morgan wondered what steps, if any, Bickersdyke would 

 take if Miss Badsworth failed to carry the horn, and Bickers- 

 dyke calculated the chances of his aunt undertaking, at the 

 last moment, work which he was informed she had not as 



