266 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



Lavvy guessed what it was all about, but she feigned 

 ignorance ; it was quite likely her aunt with her usual good 

 nature had been too merciful. 



" If you tell me what you have done I shall understand 

 it better," she said. "You will find chairs close to you." 

 She seated herself and faced the young men at some little 

 distance. 



"You see we took a hand — I mean were responsible for 

 that — er — gallop to-day." 



"That drag?" Lavvy asked in a steady voice, though she 

 had a strong inclination to burst out laughing at the uneasi- 

 ness of her visitors. " But you were neither of you the 

 man in the well, he has been fished out since. Did either 

 of you run part of the way and leave Hart to bear the brunt 

 if he was found out — which he was ? " 



" By Jove, no. Miss Badsworth, we — er — found the 

 money, don't you know, for the man." 



" All of it ? How much ? " Oddly enough, the two cul- 

 prits thought, Lavvy took up a pencil as her aunt had done. 



"About three — er — pounds," Browne replied, thinking it 

 best to tell the same story as before. 



" Hart said he received ten shillings, and was to have a 

 sovereign if he got to the river. What was the rest for ? " 



" Ton my soul, I thought he was to have it all ! " ex- 

 claimed the Hon. George, taken off his guard. 



" Then all the arrangements were not in the hands of you 

 two?" 



" We were just as responsible as any one else." 



Lavv}^ began to like these two youths ; she could see that 

 they would not give away any accomplice. Perhaps because 

 she knew who the chief promoter was, perhaps because she 

 was a kind-hearted woman, she persevered no farther with 

 her questions in the same direction. The manifest discom- 

 fort of these two young cavalry officers was amusing, but 

 that they were no cowards she felt sure. 



" I presume you are unaware that according to what Mr. 

 Beckford says a cat makes the best trail ? " 



