MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 267 



" You don't say so ! " ejaculated Browne, eager to pro- 

 pitiate the girl. 



"I mention it in order that you may be better provided 

 next time ; but I also think you do not know that the same 

 authority states that a trail should never be used after hounds 

 have been stooped to a scent. Just so," as a vacant expres- 

 sion fell on the faces of her audience. ** If you hunt as 

 sportsmen it's not a bad thing to learn something about it. 

 You probably go out to ride and ride only. Why don't you 

 have a drag hunt of your own ? You have not the smallest 

 idea of the time and trouble expended over bringing a good 

 pack of hounds into the field, and you imagine that because 

 a woman is at the head of affairs here from no choice of her 

 own, and another has to carry the horn, that they are fair 

 game and you may play what tricks you like ; and yet if 

 either of them were in danger you would step in without the 

 smallest hesitation to save her if you could. I can't under- 

 stand it." 



Lavvy leaned her elbows on the table and her chin on her 

 hands, and looked fixedly at the two young men, who failed 

 to meet the brown eyes and so did not observe the twinkle 

 in them. 



** We are a couple of brutes, and that's what we came to 

 say," Murdock remarked. 



" I'm glad you are truthful at all events," Lavvy said. 

 *' How long is it since you spun cockchafers ? " 



" 'Pon my word, I don't think I ever did. Did you, 

 Murdock ? " 



" Never could fancy the things," Murdock replied. 



"Boys seem to find some attraction in it," Lavvy said; 

 her conscience told her she was doing something very like it 

 herself. ** You, apparently, didn't spin cockchafers, and yet 

 you don't scruple to worry defenceless women. I confess I 

 don't understand it. As far as I can gather, also, your 

 wretched emissary, who got half-drowned in an old well, 

 was only to have half the money contributed. I suppose 

 the rest was kept for another ' gallop ' ? " 



