130 THE SILVER FOX 



" He says nothing of the sort. He might 

 have said Uncle Charles was a Diocesan 

 Nominator, only he forgot to," said Slaney, 

 still preoccupied with the carpet of pine- 

 needles on which they were walking. " But 

 as you're not an Irishman," she went on, 

 " I suppose you don't even know what that 

 is?" 



''It seems to be a thing that requires a 

 great deal of unnecessary attention, and 

 can't take care of itself," said Bunbury 

 gloomily. 



" Well, you're quite wrong," replied 

 Slaney, looking up with a laugh that was 

 shy and friendly, and a little conscious. 

 She was not accustomed to finding that her 

 comings and goings were of importance to 

 people like Major Bunbury. '* It's a most 

 self-sufficing and useful thing. It goes 

 away at intervals to elect clergymen for the 

 Irish Church, and it sent over a note this 

 afternoon to say I was not to go home for 

 two or three days." 



Bunbury was quite silent for a few 



