MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 239 



yet attempted. Captain Majendie assured him that hunt- 

 ing hounds was a thing which no one could take up at a 

 moment's notice (though he was prepared to do it himself), 

 but to this Victor replied, *' There was no saying what a 

 woman would try to do ". 



Victor had dined at Cranston to meet his uncle, and had 

 gone over full of determination to state his intentions. For 

 some time he had entertained the idea of some sort of com- 

 promise as being the easiest and cheapest method of busi- 

 ness, but there was something in Charles Badsworth' s eyes 

 which he never could meet with confidence, and his aunt 

 was no longer like the timid bather testing the temperature 

 of the water with a cautious foot ; she had taken the plunge 

 and was — well, as Hugo Badsworth had prophesied — all the 

 better for it. 



Moreover, Jack Morgan was of the party at Cranston, and 

 though Miss Lavvy had disappeared when dinner was over, 

 and showed no outward preference for his rival, Bickersdyke 

 recalled Majendie's words : " Don't be a fool ; stick to the 

 whole lot ". So, like Pharaoh of old, his heart was hardened. 



Charles Badsworth and the surviving executor of his late 

 brother's Will held a consultation in the smoking-room at 

 Cranston, which lasted far into the night or early morning, 

 the text for which was Mr. Badsworth's question : — 



" What do you think he intends to do ? " 



" He has said nothing to me," Jack replied, " but rumour 

 has it that he intends to get an injunction or something of 

 the sort." 



" That would be awkward with the season well advanced. 

 What do you imagine we should have to do ? " 



" Carry on the hunt with a separate account in case things 

 go against us," Jack replied. " Of course I don't know your 

 views, sir, but personally I should try bounce, and treat 

 the matter as though the name Lavinia settled the whole 

 business." 



*' Hum ! " Mr. Badsworth remarked. " It will be a pity if 

 we have to throw away thousands on litigation. I have 



