292 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



In her interview with her nephew Miss Badsworth was 

 careful not to commit herself. She listened without making 

 any remark or comment. Victor was disconcerted ; what 

 appeared to be so easy as he had walked over, suddenly 

 changed its aspect. Miss Badsworth's eyes, which were 

 steadily fixed on him (save once or twice when according to 

 habit she wrote something in pencil on a sheet of paper), 

 disturbed his equanimity as much as Lavvy's top-boots and 

 buckskins had done, so he began afresh two or three times 

 and then came to grief at the same place. 



" As far as I can gather, Victor (for you have not put the 

 matter very clearly), you want me to give you a certain sum 

 of money (to be agreed upon), and then if some other con- 

 tingency occurs, which you have not specified, you will be 

 content to withdraw all claim to your uncle's property and 

 in no way to dispute the Will or its provisions. Perhaps 

 you will tell me the other condition." 



" It's not quite a question for you to decide, aunt." 



" Then how can it come into the matter at all ? You and 

 I are the only parties concerned, and therefore it seems to 

 me we can only consider things within our power." 



" It might come under your influence, aunt. The fact is, 

 I want Lavvy to marry me." 



Miss Badsworth shifted uneasily in her chair. " So much 

 money and Lavvy, is that it ? " 



*' That's near enough, aunt." 



" Then I must plainly and flatly decline to do anything of 

 the sort. Either I have a right to this property or I have 

 none ; there is no middle course. I have managed the 

 estate and all that is connected with it, and Lavinia Bads- 

 worth has hunted the hounds. If that is not in accordance 

 with your uncle's Will I can't help it. You have got to prove 

 it. As for your marrying Lavvy, you must settle that with 

 her ; as for purchasing your silence or anything of that kind, 

 I can only tell you I am not that sort of person. That your 

 uncle should have cast this firebrand amongst us puzzles me 

 much." 



