58 THE SILVER FOX 



" Mrs. Quin was here to-day," she said, 

 catching at the first subject that suggested 

 itself. *' From what she tells me, I am 

 afraid that Tom Quin must be going out 

 of his mind." 



"I should believe that if I thought he 

 had any mind to go out of," said Glasgow 

 irritably. Slaney was not playing the part 

 he had cast for her, and the subject of the 

 Quins was not calculated to soothe him. 

 *' The whole family have persecuted me about 

 that gravel-pit — Quin, and his mother, and 

 the red-haired sister, and all. I wonder if 

 they really think I am going to give up 

 working the place to please them ! " 



" Yes, I think they do," replied Slaney, 

 staring before her into the blue and pink 

 and yellow flames of the wood fire. Then, 

 after a pause, " I am not quite sure that I 

 don't sympathize with them." 



" Sympathize with what?" asked Glasgow 

 impatiently. " With their distress, or with 

 their superstition ? " 



" Perhaps a little of both." 



