88 THE SILVER FOX 



Slaney realized that of the whole party- 

 she alone felt the proceeding to be un- 

 usual, yet Major Bunbury did not seem to 

 appreciate it. 



''Well, I'm off, anyhow," said Hugh. 

 " Make them look after you, Slaney. If 

 Glasgow wants to know anything more 

 about the next meet or stopping the earths, 

 or anything, Bunbury, Dan can tell him." 

 In spite of himself, his voice stiffened till 

 all the good-fellowship was gone from it. 

 "Well, good-bye, everybody." 



He wondered whether his wife would 

 come out to see him off, but he could not 

 ask her. She got up and came to the door, 

 and stood leaning against it as he passed 

 out. She was not quite sufficiently feminine 

 to discern that, in spite of his unprepossess- 

 ing manner, and bald brevity of farewell, 

 he hated going away from her, and he went 

 down the passage unaccompanied except by 

 his dog. 



*' I think Hughie's got influenza, or liver, 



