64 THE SILVER FOX 



he had licked them the night before, passed 

 the lair of the cat with respectful rigidity, 

 and lay down as if tired, submitting like a 

 Christian and a gentleman to the fondlings 

 of Mikeen. 



" Have they the bridge finished yet, in 

 Tully Bog ? " asked Maria Quin, as she took 

 the teapot up from its nest in the hot 

 ashes. 



Quin raised his heavy eyes quickly. 



** Ye think ye're damn wise," he said, 

 "follyin* me, an' axin me this an' that 

 what was I doin'. Haven't I throuble 

 enough without the likes o' yee annoyin' 

 me!" 



** Oh, asthoreen," wailed his mother, 

 " sure it's only that we're that much unaisy 

 for the way ye are, that we'd ax where'd ye 

 go. Take the cup o' tay, asthore, don't be 

 talkin' that way." 



Quin relapsed into silence, and Maria was 

 in the act of pouring out his tea, when 

 the long sweet note of a horn struck 

 suddenly on their ears, and Watch sprang 



