CHAPTER XXXVII. 



Hot baths and dinner had done something to mitigate 

 fatigue and discomfort amongst the principal inmates of 

 Cranston Lodge, but there was quite sufficient of the former 

 left to preclude any lengthened discussion on " what was to 

 be done next ". Having decided that Victor must take such 

 steps as appeared good to him, and that a smart first whip 

 would be necessary, the matter faded away into sublunary 

 affairs. 



From the point of view of those present the requirements 

 of Hugo Badsworth's Will had been carried out. Having 

 come to the determination to go to bed early, they ended by 

 sitting up rather later than usual. Lavvy experienced that 

 feeling of contentment which comes to people placed in 

 certain circumstances. Perhaps it was that bruise below 

 the knee which, persisting in making its presence felt, 

 caused her to wrap herself in a cosy dressing-gown and 

 draw an arm-chair to the fire rather than seek her couch and 

 (as usual) fall asleep almost as soon as her head rested on 

 her pillow. At all events she sat and built little castles, and 

 (which would seem most unlikely) went step by step over 

 seven miles of dark and muddy country road, with a smell 

 of damp and fox pervading everything. She sat for an 

 hour, and at the end of that time felt no inclination towards 

 sleep. 



" Shut up, Johnnie ! " she said, when the terrier's mono- 

 tonous snoring was broken by an exciting chase in dream- 

 land, which produced sotto voce growls and squeaks. 



'* I'm not the least sleepy, I'll go down and write up the 

 log," she said to herself " Phew I My leg is stiff," 



316 



