6 THE SILVER FOX 



knack she could not catch, and whose pur- 

 port she thought either babyish or vulgar. 

 There must be an English and an Irish form 

 of humour, so at least it seemed to Slaney, 

 as she listened with the intolerance of the 

 clever provincial to Lady Susan's loud and 

 ready laugh. Hugh, at all events, was not, 

 she thanked Heaven, humorous in either 

 manner. She found herself less of a fool 

 when she was talking to Hugh. 



"I'm afraid you don't take much interest 

 in your cousin's misfortunes, Slaney," he 

 said. " Didn't you know that I was smashed 

 up at Bangalore last spring, playing polo ? 

 I was trying to *ride off' this great 

 brute," indicating Major Bunbury, "and 

 I got the worst of it. I was in hospital 

 for a month, and grew a thundering 

 big black beard. Couldn't shave for six 

 weeks." 



" Don't make me sick," said Lady Susan, 

 beginning heartily on biscuits and cheese. 

 " If rd known that in time I wouldn't have 

 married you. A little man with a beard's 



