CHAPTER XXXV. 



The projected search for another Will was carried out most 

 thoroughly ; every nook and corner was investigated in turn. 

 Besides the failure in finding any document, there were other 

 drawbacks from Jack Morgan's point of view. Miss Bads- 

 worth lent all her energies to the task and Miss Lavvy had a 

 cold in her head. 



At Allington and Mulchester markets the sporting element 

 foregathered for the midday ordinary, and much discussion 

 followed, with the " drag" on the opening day as the subject 

 for debate. 



It was not a good debate, for the speakers were all in 

 favour of one side of the question ; but the steps which Miss 

 Badsworth and Lady Flora had taken (with many additions 

 and few subtractions) were canvassed and approved, to be 

 eventually eclipsed by the report that the Cranston Hounds 

 had run for over an hour in the snow and killed their fox at 

 the kennels. When Jimmy Edwards put things right with 

 regard to time the impression was left that the pace must 

 have been good. 



Sporting papers, glad of copy in a frost which looked like 

 being of a lasting nature, gave graphic accounts from eye- 

 witnesses and imaginary biographical sketches of Miss 

 Badsworth and her niece, so it was not surprising that 

 curiosity was aroused ; and when Alf Diccox's (or rather his 

 father's) prognostication came true, and another fall of snow 

 terminated in rain and a rapid thaw, there were many who 

 made up their minds to run down and have a look at this 

 new-fashioned menage. 



Numerous were the requests for sittings, for interviews, 



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