298 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



Charles Badsworth said " It was all rubbish to suppose 

 that, knowing his sister as he did, Hugo could have contem- 

 plated her attempting to carry out the conditions ". To 

 which Mr. Bailey replied (after drumming on the table for a 

 minute or more) that " Mr. Badsworth was a hasty man; 

 that something had upset him when he drafted the codicil, 

 and that it was probable that he never weighed results at 

 all ". 



Each client consequently came away with the usual im- 

 pression under such circumstances that the opposite side 

 was the favoured one. 



To Miss Lavvy fell the lot of keeping up the steam re- 

 quired to drive the Cranston machinery ; and yet with the 

 fields increased in size, and the country deep and holding, 

 for two days in each week she had more than enough to do. 



" She stands it wonderful, but it's too much for her," Joe 

 Summers said to his wife. " And, mind you, I know what 

 it is." 



It was nearly eight o'clock when the hounds had arrived 

 at the kennels that evening, owing to one of those untoward 

 circumstances which are generally to be found recorded in 

 the annals of the very best packs. 



A large field had assembled at Garston Green. Every 

 one seemed anxious to try and make amends for the occur- 

 rence on the opening day, so that both Miss Badsworth and 

 her niece found themselves surrounded by those anxious to 

 congratulate them on the thaw, and to learn from Miss 

 Lavvy the details of her gallop in the snow. 



" You must try and keep all these people in order, auntie," 

 the girl said, just before she went on to draw. 



Miss Badsworth did her best, but when twice a fox, after 

 considerable persuasion, made an attempt to go, and was 

 headed back two fields away by carriages, motors and bi- 

 cycles on the road, and when holloas sounded from various 

 points of the compass, the scattered horsemen and horse- 

 women got completely out of hand and the prospects of 

 sport were at a discount. 



