314 MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 



you, and after all it's only outside. It's no good — ^Jack be 

 quiet ! " as the terrier breathed threatenings at Purity out of 

 sheer jealousy. " It's no good being squeamish now ; I 

 never in all my experience was so utterly filthy." 



She threaded the thong of her whip through the fox's 

 grinning jaws and down what once was his gullet, carrying 

 the trophy in the loop. 



" Now, then, come along, Coop ! I wonder what will 

 happen next." 



It was nearly dark by the time the high road was reached ; 

 there was no possibility of a lift now, so Lavvy limped 

 bravely along, for had not disaster been turned to success ? 

 Nevertheless she could have done without that fox's mask. 

 It was dreary work. Hounds were tired and some lagged 

 behind ; and there was no one to put them on, but the girl 

 kept talking to them. If her knee had not been stiff and her 

 heels sore from the slopping of her boots it certainly would 

 have been better. 



After a couple of miles of weary plodding the monotony 

 was broken by the rattle of a coming motor car, and in a 

 few minutes the glare of its lamps flashed round a corner. 

 Hounds were probably all over the road, what was to be 

 done ? Lavvy thought of her horn and blew lustily. " Poof ! 

 poof! " came from the motor. "Twang!" went the horn 

 again. 



'' Hold hard ! " Lavvy cried, blinded by the glare of the 

 lamps. The motor stopped. 



" What's the matter ? " asked the driver. 



'* Nothing now, thank you," Lavvy replied. " It is only 

 that I have six couples of hounds here, and it's pitch dark." 



'* It is Miss Badsworth, is it not ? We passed some one 

 on horseback who inquired if we had seen you. Can we 

 give you a lift ? " 



Lavvy laughed. " It's very good of you, but I fear we 

 are too many. I must get on. Good night." 



It was darker than ever when the motor lamps were gone, 

 and Lavvy had difficulty in keeping out of the roadside ditch 



