MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 261 



In spite of the shadows of what she called her principles, 

 Miss Badsworth received her brother's approval with a cer- 

 tain degree of pride. 



The November afternoon was beginning to close in ; there 

 was a grey look in the sky and a keenness in the wind which 

 was chilling, to say the least of it. It was especially chilling 

 to two young men in a motor car, who, wrapped up as they 

 were in garments suitable to an Arctic expedition, for the 

 first time regretted the speed of the car in which they were 

 wont to transgress the statute of speed limitations. 



" What the deuce shall we say ? " Murdock asked when 

 Cranston hove in sight. There was the ring of despair in 

 his voice. 



" Heaven knows. Isn't there something in the Bible 

 about not thinking beforehand ? " queried Browne. 



" There may be for what I know, but all those good pre- 

 cepts seem to lose their value when you really want them. 

 We had better shut our eyes and go at it." 



Mr. Lancelot Browne, acting on his own advice, jumped 

 out of the car the moment it stopped, rang the bell before 

 his courage could evaporate, and stood awaiting the advent 

 of a servant with two cards in his hand. 



When the door was thrown open with a majestic swing 

 by a footman, and that functionary had stated that Miss 

 Badsworth was at home, the cards were handed over with a 

 request for a few minutes' interview. 



When it was intimated to them that an audience was 

 granted, they hastily peeled off their outer coverings and 

 stood revealed in immaculate dress such as would have done 

 credit to Pall Mall or Piccadilly. 



*' Go first," said Murdock in a whisper. 



" You are senior," was the reply. There was no denying 

 the fact, and they followed the footman in a solemn pro- 

 cession of two. 



It was natural that Miss Badsworth should have no sus- 

 picion of the object of the visit of the two young warriors, but 



