138 THE SILVER FOX 



"Can't you realize," she said, at last, " that 

 nothing I could say would do any good 

 now ? " 



" I see," he sneered, while he sought 

 among his cast-iron theories of women for 

 something that should fit this abnormal one. 

 " You mean that it is no use to hope that 

 a woman will hold her tongue, whether it be 

 to her own advantage or not ! " 



The long-pent anger suddenly stirred in 

 her, and with it the resolution that had long 

 lain dormant. 



"Would it surprise you to hear," she 

 began, with the sensation of coming into 

 the open, under fire, " that a woman has 

 held her tongue about you for some time 

 past?" 



He half turned and looked hard at her. 

 ** I have ceased to be surprised at anything 

 a woman may do, but I should certainly like 

 to hear the particulars of such a piece of 

 self-sacrifice." 



Slaney hesitated. It was nearly impossi- 

 ble to say it. The twilight was falling and 



