MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 277 



is spoken of; there is no 'my sister,' 'my niece,' 'the 

 before-mentioned,' or anything else. Now, what are you 

 going to swear about ? " 



Victor's ideas were shaken up Hke the colours in a kaleido- 

 scope ; the new light shed by Morgan on the clause looked 

 clearer and brighter than was warranted by the state of the 

 case. Jack Morgan thoroughly enjoyed his discomfiture. 



Presently Victor recovered himself and made a clutch at 

 the apparently vanishing prospects. 



"Oh," he said, "that's all rubbish! Of course it's the 

 same Lavinia all through." 



*' It fuay be," Jack said. " If I were you I would take 

 counsel's opinion." 



" By Jove, so I will ! " Victor ejaculated rising. 



" Don't forget to state the case properly ! Have another 

 cigarette, it's cold outside. I fancy we are in for a frost." 



When his visitor was gone Jack whistled softly to him- 

 self, then the whistling ceased. " I wonder where the deuce 

 he put it ? " There was, naturally, no response, but Jack's 

 train of thought led up to a greatcoat and a brisk walk to 

 Cranston. Wily young man ! He knew that on hunting 

 days Miss Lavvy was wont to write up the ledgers and 

 conduct the correspondence which fell to her lot in the 

 library before dinner. 



There was a marked difference between the reception 

 accorded to Jack Morgan and that which had obtained in 

 the case of the two young cavalry officers, though Jack, not 

 having been present at the former interview, was unaware 

 of it. 



Reaction had set in, in fact had been setting in for some 

 time, so that when the butler announced " Mr. Morgan," 

 Miss Lavvy was quite her usual self. At all events her 

 welcome was bright and cheery. 



" There's a frost, no end of a frost, with an attempt at 

 snow. I shouldn't wonder if we didn't hunt for a fortnight," 

 Jack said cheerfully, as he drew his chair to the fire at 

 Lavvy's invitation. 



