290 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



wouldn't wear that dress " (whether by accident or design 

 Lavvy had turned back a part of the flap of her coat and dis- 

 played a small knee with a neatly tied bow at the side of the 

 snowy buckskins). 



** I perfectly understand you, Victor, a sum of money and 

 me, or me and a sum of money, that's the price of your not 

 interfering with Aunt Lavinia's share of the business. In 

 fact, the truth is that your chance of upsetting auntie's claim 

 is about as shadowy as it can be, and you want me to be a 

 party in making the best terms that can be made on your 

 behalf. Now, if I were you I would talk it over with Aunt 

 Lavinia and see what she says. What are you going to do 

 with Captain Majendie ? " 



♦' Oh, he's off." 



" Off? Has auntie's letter frightened him away ? " 



" No ; Aunt Lavinia's was strong enough, but old Lady 

 Flora Parkfield finished him. She wrote things pretty plainly 

 and concluded by saying that if the arrangement between 

 him and me was ever carried out she would close her seven 

 coverts to the hounds and destroy every fox on her estate." 



Lavvy looked at her cousin with a peculiar smile as she 

 said, " I thought the dear old soul would be angry ". 



''You'll marry me, Lavvy, won't you .'' " 



" My dear Victor ! Without the money, perhaps ! You 

 go and see auntie, and I will give you my answer on No- 

 vember 30th. Now, I really must change." 



Victor didn't like the dress, it seemed to damp his ardour, 

 and, though he would have scarcely acknowledged it, what 

 Lavvy had said about consulting his aunt had its weight. 

 So he went. 



Scarcely was he gone when there came the sound of boots 

 kicked against stonework to remove inherent snow, one or 

 two quick steps and a knock at the door, to which Lavvy 

 replied with permission to enter. 



" Forgive my intruding in this way," said Jack Morgan's 

 voice, which preceded his body, ** but are you all right ? " 

 There was anxiety in the question. " Upon my word, I 



