26o MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



'' Perhaps not, but when one comes to think it over we 

 assisted at playing it very low down on a woman. From 

 what they say, Miss Badsworth had no choice but to take 

 the hounds, and the little girl is undeniably a good sort, one 

 can tell that from the very look of her — seen at a distance." 



There was an interval of silence once more, until Murdock, 

 who had evidently been thinking the matter out, asked : — 



" What are we going to do about it ? " 



" It's a beastly job to do, but I don't see what else there is 

 open. As soon as I have changed, I shall borrow Giles's 

 motor and go over to Cranston and apologise. Will you 

 come ? " 



" Good Lord, I never thought of that, Browne! It's an 

 awful thing to have to do. Suppose we get chucked by the 

 butler, or Miss Badsworth writes to the chief — there is no 

 saying what an angry woman will do. However," hesitat- 

 ingly, '* we are in the same boat, and it's the straight thing 

 to do — I'm there with you. Heavens! what an ordeal! 

 Let us jog on and get it over. I don't so much mind Miss 

 Badsworth, but I wouldn't face the girl just yet for worlds." 



Charles Badsworth impressed upon his sister that this was 

 a very serious matter, and that she must put her foot down. 



" It's a low trick to play upon a woman," Miss Badsworth 

 said. 



Her brother laughed. '' Lavinia, my dear, Hugo was 

 right in a way, confound him." 



''I'm quite ready to acknowledge it, Charles, in a way. 

 One certainly lives and learns. Now tell me what I ought 

 to do and I'll do it." 



" Write a curt note to Majendie, and tell him that, unless 

 he offers a handsome apology, the hounds will go home every 

 time he appears in the field. He has got that fool, Victor, 

 at his back, or I would make it stronger." 



Miss Badsworth wrote a dignified note and submitted it 

 to her brother. 



" Capital ! my dear," he said. *' It's a regular snorter in 

 the fewest possible words and does you every credit." 



