MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 265 



though they had been handed over to the tormentors. A 

 girl who hunted hounds and rode undeniably in breeches 

 and boots, a girl whom they had never seen otherwise ! A 

 muscular, mannish young woman ! Surely the last state 

 was worse than the first ! So they thought as they followed 

 the butler in solemn silence. 



One shaded lamp threw a light upon a writing-table and 

 served to intensify the gloom in the distant corners of the 

 apartment into which they were ushered. To the youthful 

 warriors' minds it appeared as they entered it a veritable 

 chamber of horrors. 



" The Hon. George Murdockand Mr. Browne," proclaimed 

 the butler, and then the door was shut. 



Within the circle of the lamplight a girl rose from a 

 curiously carved oak chair, a girl with short curly hair and 

 steady brown eyes ; she was clad in a well-made serge dress 

 which showed a rounded, graceful figure, and withal she was 

 a great deal taller than the young men had expected. It 

 puzzled and confused them sorely, for " She was just like 

 any one else," as they put it afterwards. 



The pause was longer than had even been the case in the 

 interview with Miss Badsworth, and there came no invita- 

 tion as yet to be seated, in fact Miss Lavvy remained stand- 

 ing herself. 



The Hon. George cleared his throat, but there was no 

 result in speech, so Lavvy, quickly observing, as her aunt 

 had done, that her interviewers were very nervous about 

 something, made the opening move. 



** I understand you want to see me about something." 



" Well, we didn't, at least I don't mean that, but Miss 

 Badsworth made it a point in her — er — promise of — er — 

 looking over what we had done that we should — er — make 

 our apologies to you, too." Murdock passed his handker- 

 chief over his lips. Browne took up the running. 



" Miss Badsworth behaved like a brick — I mean, of course, 

 a very kind person ; she might have fired us out, don't you 

 know." 



