MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 311 



the sound of hounds running. The rain was now a driving 

 drizzle, the landscape grey and indistinct, but scent appeared 

 to hold. A little piece of luck let the girl up to within a 

 field of her hounds, but whilst opening a heavy gate the 

 wind caught it and it struck her just below the knee. For- 

 tunately there was no time for delay, though for a minute or 

 two the pain made Lavvy feel sick and faint. Then it got 

 better, and she was just getting on terms once more and 

 trying to decide whether she should stop the hounds, when 

 the chestnut, who was blown, landed in a boggy place, came 

 down on his head, and sent his rider five yards on in front 

 with all the wind knocked out of her. 



Lavvy was perfectly conscious, but for some seconds felt 

 that she couldn't take the trouble to get up. 



Three things combined to make her pull herself together : 

 first, she was evidently lying on a wet spot ; second, there 

 was the sound of rapid panting, and Jack's black head and 

 wet nose against her cheek ; third, a voice which asked 

 " Be yer hurt, sir ? " 



Lavvy sat up and saw a figure with its head through a 

 sack, evidently a hedger ; she reached out a hand to Jack's 

 head before she replied " I don't think so ". Then she 

 stood upright and picked up her cap ; her knee was rather 

 stiff but the gate accounted for that ; it was probably the 

 plaster of mud on one side and the muddy water up her 

 sleeves which made her feel so inclined to cry. 



The man in the sack proceeded to try and get the horse 

 on his legs, which was a more difficult matter than he sup- 

 posed. 



" We'ed best let un lay a bit, he's blowed, that's what he 

 is, bless yer." The man spoke cheerfully, after failing in his 

 object. 



A second attempt got the chestnut up, but he was dead 

 lame. 



" Give hisself a bit of a twist, I spex," said the man. 

 " Better put un in at the farm yonder," he counselled, and 

 they went, he leading the horse ; he " minded " many things 



