MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 249 



Major Creswell discussed the points of a new horse which 

 refused to stand still, and declared that hounds were sure to 

 be late. There was the usual kicker of which people fought 

 shy, and the cavalry division full of ride and orange gin. The 

 farmer element was there in its strength, at least would be 

 presently, when they had done justice to Lady Flora's hospi- 

 tality. 



It was precisely three minutes to eleven by the stable 

 clock when some one said " 'Ere's the 'ounds, anyway," and 

 the sun fell upon the velvet caps, the new red coats, and the 

 shifting shades of colour amongst the hounds. 



" Baik, Bushman ! " Ned Barlow said to a hound who, a 

 little wide of the pack, inspected with a solemn face a peram- 

 bulator drawn up beneath the laurels, to the no small terror 

 of its occupant. 



" Good morning, Mrs. West," exclaimed Lavvy, recognis- 

 ing the wife of a retainer in the mother of the infant. 



" Good morning, miss — well I never, to be sure," was the 

 reply, accompanied by a hesitating curtsey. 



" No, I don't suppose you ever did," Lavvy laughed as 

 she rode on, and pulled up within a few yards of the spot 

 where on a summer morning we saw her once before. 



Whatever Miss Badsworth felt she looked perfectly at her 

 ease as she shook hands with Lady Flora on the carriage 

 drive. The elder lady chatted according to her wont on all 

 manner of things, whilst at the same time she took in every 

 detail. 



" Quite right, my dear, a silk hat, so becoming ; after the 

 slipshod bowlers it's quite refreshing ; poor Harry would no 

 more have let me go out hunting without one than without 

 — Ah ! There's the little girl. I must go and speak to her. 

 I suppose you draw the Ashbed first. I doubt if you'll find 

 there, but there is no saying ; go in and have something. 

 Buncombe !" 



A man in velveteen climbed up the haha wall and saluted ; 

 a conference took place and her ladyship waved her oak 

 stick in various directions. 



