MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 291 



believe you are," with an eager look at the girl's face. '' I 

 saw the hounds running up at Tod's Farm, and you — and 

 I dreaded some mishap and have run down to find out." 

 Jack's breath was still coming quickly. 



'' I am perfectly safe," Lavvy said with a smile which re- 

 warded Jack for his run. " I don't think it was as risky as 

 it looked, for the ground was quite soft, but I begin to think 

 it was a foolish thing to do ; we had twenty-seven minutes 

 of the best and killed close to the kennels." 



Lavvy felt it rather embarrassing to have Jack's eyes 

 fixed admiringly upon her ; unlike Victor's, they never fell 

 below the level of her scarfpin, so she went on to tell how 

 the matter had occurred. " Summers performed the last 

 rites, and paid me a compliment," she said in conclusion. 



" And didn't you get a fall ? " Jack asked. 



" As a matter of fact I got two, but I managed to stick to 

 the reins," Lavvy replied laughing. 



" Are you perfectly sure you are not hurt ? " Jack asked 

 gravely. 



'' Perfectly sure, but snow up one's sleeves is annoying. 

 I've had an interview with Victor since." 



" Oh, hang him ; nothing matters so long as you are all 

 right. By the way, though, you are wet, you must be — 

 snow would go through those boots like brown paper " (he 

 never glanced at them even). Run and get a hot bath and 

 a change. I'll go back to Jim Edwards ; he is as anxious 

 as I was." 



" So I will," Lavvy said, going to the door. She looked 

 back through the doorway and said, with a light in her eyes 

 which the shadow of the peak of her velvet cap could not 

 conceal, *' I expect auntie will want you to come to dinner ; 

 she is having a business talk with Victor. I really am not 

 hurt, not even stiff." 



Lavvy distinctly heard Jack mutter "Thank God ! " though 

 what he spoke aloud was " All right ! I shall be there if 

 required." 



19 * 



