MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 281 



Your uncle was a hasty man who frequently sat down and 

 wrote a violent letter on the spur of the moment when 

 annoyed ; it relieved his feelings, but he has told me many 

 a time that he always slept on these effusions and they were 

 seldom sent. If hunting is stopped, wouldn't it be well if 

 we had another search ? " (Wily young man !) 



" I suppose it was the necessity for this which made you 

 rejoice in the prospect of frost ? " Lavvy asked demurely. 



" Er " Jack hesitated ; then his honesty came to the 



rescue. " No, it wasn't exactly that, it was because yoic 

 would get a rest, and there would be fewer days in the 

 month on which you would run the risk of accidents, rain 

 and cold, and — too much work. There now, if you are 

 angry, I can't help it." 



" Why should I be angry ? " Lavvy asked. " I think it's 

 very nice of you to care." 



'* Care ? " Jack exclaimed, drawing his chair a little closer, 

 and then the door opened. 



"Alfred Diccox would like to see you, ma'am," the butler 

 said. 



Jack stood up, and the rueful expression on his face was 

 extremely comic. 



" Don't say it ! " Lavvy exclaimed with the fascinating 

 twinkle in her eyes. Jack looked at her doubtfully. " I 

 mean," she went on, " what you were thinking of Diccox. 

 We will make that search if the frost lasts." 



" May it freeze until November 30th," Jack ejaculated, as 

 a gust of wind nearly bereft him of his cap outside the front 

 door. ** There is no saying what may happen ; people forget 

 that a huntsman's horse is often half blown before a run 

 begins." These words might have seemed vague in their 

 meaning had any one been by to hear them. 



Alf Diccox was shown in in his Sunday best, and shuffled 

 nervously from foot to foot in the lamplight. 



" I looked in, mum, to say it weren't altogether my fault. 

 I miscalcurlated." 



" What is the matter, Alf? " Lavvy asked. 



