MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 257 



He was a pitiable object as he stood with chattering teeth 

 and an abject expression on his face as Charles Badsworth 

 accompanied his words, " Now, then, what have you got to 

 say? " by picking up his whip and measuring carefully the 

 doubled thong. 



Jack Morgan's wrath at the insulting trick played on Miss 

 Lavvy could not withstand poor Bill's look of terror. 



** Better sell him to Midianitish merchantmen, if you can 

 see any/' he said. 



Jimmy Edwards grinned, and Mr. Badsworth's eyes 

 twinkled, but he asked sternly : — 



"Who paid you?" 



Bill had no absurd sense of honour when his own skin was 

 concerned, so he replied " Captain Majendie ". 



"How much?" 



"Ten shillin's down, and a sufferin if I got down to the 

 river." 



Mr. Badsworth took out a note-book and wrote this down. 

 Then he eyed the thong of his whip, and Bill's teeth 

 chattered. 



" You'd best come down and see Miss Badsworth about 

 it when you've got clean," Mr. Badsworth said, putting 

 his whip under his arm and turning away. " We may as 

 well sort those leathers and get on," he added to his com- 

 panions. 



The hatless Bill watched the three men as they mounted 

 their horses ; they said nothing, but Bill was content that 

 he had escaped so easily. It was characteristic of Charles 

 Badsworth that he pulled up his horse before he had ridden 

 fifty yards and called to Bill : — 



" Get some bread and cheese and a pint of beer," he said, 

 holding out something as Hart approached with the water 

 squelching in his boots. 



" Poor devil, I suppose it wasn't his fault," he said to his 

 companions as he rejoined them. It seemed a sort of 

 apology for his generosity. 



17 



