THE SILVER FOX 85 



to avail him when he remembered his wife's 

 figure up against the sky on the top of the 

 stone-faced bank, while he turned and made 

 for the byways and highways that had been 

 his portion throughout the day. Passionate 

 admiration, turning to passionate jealousy 

 of her flawless courage, and self-contempt, 

 and knowledge that his eyes would never 

 again meet hers without consciousness of 

 failure; all these because a good little 

 average man had but two ideas in his life, 

 and when one was taken from him, the 

 other sickened like a poisoned thing. 



The slow beat of a horse's hoofs became 

 audible on the avenue, and a sombre vehicle, 

 that was half brougham and half cab, 

 emerged from the trees into the open. Its 

 coachman had a long red beard, a frieze 

 coat, and a hat with a silver cord round it ; 

 the horse was white and shaggy, the wheels 

 of the brougham turned in as if it were 

 bandy-legged. Hugh recognized the equip- 

 ao^e of his Uncle Charles, and stationed 

 himself at the hall door to receive it. 



