The Silver Fox: 'It was obviously the moment for Miss Morris to say something brilliant''

By Edith Somerville and Martin Ross

Somerville & Ross was the writing partnership of Edith Somerville and Violet Florence Martin.

Edith Anna Œnone Somerville, the eldest of eight, was born on 2nd May 1858 on Corfu, then a British protectorate where her father was stationed. After he retired back to County Cork Edith was home educated before attending Alexandra College in Dublin. In 1884 she went to Paris to study art at the Académie Colarossi and Académie Delécluse, and then spent a term at the Westminster School of Art.

In January 1886 she met her second cousin, Violet Florence Martin, who had been born at Ross House in Connemara, County Galway, the youngest of sixteen, on 11th June 1862.

They began writing together the following year and published their first book ‘An Irish Cousin’ in 1889 under the pseudonym Geilles Herring.

Much has been made of their partnership arrangements. They shared a home in Drishane, County Cork and there is little doubt that they were lovers and formed a lifetime attachment. They took care to cloak their literary identities as men, though primarily this may have been only to help with getting published. Despite the explosion of periodicals and magazines society still saw women starting out, and consequently their works, as second class. Obviously it also helped to keep prying eyes away.

Politically their views were divided. Violet was a suffragette and a convinced Irish unionist whilst Edith, although also a suffragette, was a Nationalist.

This aside their writing partnership was rich and prolific ranging from novels to short stories as well as 116 volumes of diaries and thousands of letters.

In 1898 Edith went to paint at the Etaples art colony, accompanied by Violet and whilst there they conceived the stories later used in ‘Some Experiences of an Irish R M,’ this series was perhaps the most popular and admired of their works.

That same year Violet was seriously injured in a riding accident and never regained her full health. Indeed, it was a contributing factor to her death on 21st December 1915 in Drishane at the age of 53.

Edith was heartbroken but continued to write as ‘Somerville and Ross’, saying they were in contact through spiritualist séances, a popular interest in the late Victorian era and early 20th Century.

She was in London recovering from Violet's death when the Easter Rising broke out. Edith wrote to The Times, blaming the British government. Now her position leaned towards Nationalism.

Exhibitions of her pictures were held in Dublin and London throughout the 20s and 30s and she also illustrated several sporting and children's picture books.

Edith Anna Œnone Somerville died at Castletownshend in October 1949, aged 91, and is buried alongside Violet at Saint Barrahane's Church, Castletownsend, County Cork, Ireland.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Horse's Mouth
• Release date: May 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781839678691

Book preview

The Silver Fox by Somerville and Ross

Somerville & Ross was the writing partnership of Edith Somerville and Violet Florence Martin.

Edith Anna Œnone Somerville, the eldest of eight, was born on 2nd May 1858 on Corfu, then a British protectorate where her father was stationed.  After he retired back to County Cork Edith was home educated before attending Alexandra College in Dublin. In 1884 she went to Paris to study art at the Académie Colarossi and Académie Delécluse, and then spent a term at the Westminster School of Art.

In January 1886 she met her second cousin, Violet Florence Martin, who had been born at Ross House in Connemara, County Galway, the youngest of sixteen, on 11th June 1862. 

They began writing together the following year and published their first book ‘An Irish Cousin’ in 1889 under the pseudonym Geilles Herring.

Much has been made of their partnership arrangements.  They shared a home in Drishane, County Cork and there is little doubt that they were lovers and formed a lifetime attachment.  They took care to cloak their literary identities as men, though primarily this may have been only to help with getting published. Despite the explosion of periodicals and magazines society still saw women starting out, and consequently their works, as second class.  Obviously it also helped to keep prying eyes away.

Politically their views were divided.  Violet was a suffragette and a convinced Irish unionist whilst Edith, although also a suffragette, was a Nationalist.

This aside their writing partnership was rich and prolific ranging from novels to short stories as well as 116 volumes of diaries and thousands of letters. 

In 1898 Edith went to paint at the Etaples art colony, accompanied by Violet and whilst there they conceived the stories later used in ‘Some Experiences of an Irish R M,’ this series was perhaps the most popular and admired of their works.

That same year Violet was seriously injured in a riding accident and never regained her full health. Indeed, it was a contributing factor to her death on 21st December 1915 in Drishane at the age of 53.

Edith was heartbroken but continued to write as ‘Somerville and Ross’, saying they were in contact through spiritualist séances, a popular interest in the late Victorian era and early 20th Century.

She was in London recovering from Violet's death when the Easter Rising broke out. Edith wrote to The Times, blaming the British government. Now her position leaned towards Nationalism.

Exhibitions of her pictures were held in Dublin and London throughout the 20s and 30s and she also illustrated several sporting and children's picture books.

Edith Anna Œnone Somerville died at Castletownshend in October 1949, aged 91, and is buried alongside Violet at Saint Barrahane's Church, Castletownsend, County Cork, Ireland.

Index of Contents

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

Chapter XV

Somerville & Ross – A Concise Bibliography

SILVER FOX

CHAPTER I

Lady Susan had never been so hungry in her life. So, for the sixth time, she declared between loud and unbridled yawns. She worked her chair across the parquet towards the fire-place, dragging the hearthrug into folds in her progress, and put her large and well-shod feet on the fender.

What a beast of a fire! When you’ve quite done with it, Bunny, I shouldn’t mind seeing it just the same. You are a selfish thing!

In obedience to this rebuke Major Bunbury moved an inch or two to one side.

I’m not as selfish as you are, he said, with agreeable simplicity. Miss Morris can’t see anything but your boots.

Oh, she likes seeing boots, replied Lady Susan, establishing one on the hob. They don’t have ’em in Ireland, do they, Slaney!

It was obviously the moment for Miss Morris to say something brilliant, but she let the opportunity slip. Perhaps she was hampered by the consciousness that her boots had been made in an Irish country town. She got red. She did not know that it was becoming to her to get red. Finding no more appropriate retort, she laughed, and pushing back her chair, walked over to the window. What she looked out on was the lawn at Hurlingham, covered smoothly and desolately with snow; a line of huddled, white hummocks of ice, moving very slowly across the middle distance, represented the River Thames; down to the right, five or six skaters glided on the black and serpentine curves of a little lake—they looked like marionettes sliding along a wire. Even at that distance they seemed to Slaney over-dressed and artificial. No doubt they were screaming inanities to each other, as were these other English idiots in the room behind her. How ineffably stupid they were, and how shy and provincial they made her feel! How could Hugh have married into such a pack?

One of the double doors at the end of the room opened, and a small, dark man appeared.

Awfully sorry to have kept you all waiting, he said abjectly. I’m afraid it’s a bad business; they say that there’s nothing to be had here on Sundays at this time of year, unless it’s ordered beforehand.

Oh Lord! ejaculated Lady Susan, bringing her foot and the shovel down with a crash. Do you mean to say there’s nothing to eat?

It’s not quite as bad as that, but precious nearly, he replied, looking at her so deplorably that Slaney felt inclined to laugh. We’re going to have some of the waiter’s dinner. It’s a leg of mutton, and he says he don’t think it’s quite boiled yet, but I said we wouldn’t wait.

Lady Susan seized Major Bunbury’s hand, and pulled herself out of her chair. She was stalwart and tall, and her dress fitted beautifully. With a whisk and rustle of silk petticoats she was across the room and caught Miss Morris by the arm.

Worry, worry, worry! Sess, sess, sess! she said, with a sufficiently fortunate imitation of her father’s kennel huntsman. Come on and eat raw leg of mutton! I hope the waiter likes onion sauce!

In the dining-room a genial fire was blazing; a soft and rich-coloured carpet glowed on the floor; the atmosphere was of old-fashioned comfort; there was a desirable smell of fried potatoes. The party sank into their places at an oval table, and to each was administered a plateful of pink mutton that grew rosier at every slice. Captain Hugh French, late of the —th Hussars, looked round upon his guests, and felt that champagne was the only reparation in his power.

I feel it’s all my fault bringing you people down here to starve. You’ll have to take it out in drink, he said helplessly.

The words were addressed to the company, but his brown eyes, that were like the eyes of a good small dog, addressed themselves to those of his wife. Slaney, following them, wondered whether he could help seeing the black line frankly drawn along the edge of Lady Susan’s lower eyelids. The white glare from the snow showed it unsparingly, as she looked at her husband over the rim of the champagne glass from which she was drinking.

Yes, darling, you’re a silly little thing, she said blandly; I always said that spill had given you softening of the brain.

What spill? asked Slaney. It was almost the first time she had spoken. She had sat, inwardly scornful and outwardly shy, in the midst of conversation whose knack she could not catch, and whose purport she thought either babyish or vulgar. There must be an English and an Irish form of humour, so at least it seemed to Slaney, as she listened with the intolerance of the clever provincial to Lady Susan’s loud and ready laugh. Hugh, at all events, was not, she thanked Heaven, humorous in either manner. She found herself less of a fool when she was talking to Hugh.

I’m afraid you don’t take much interest in your cousin’s misfortunes, Slaney, he said. Didn’t you know that I was smashed up at Bungalore last spring, playing polo? I was trying to ‘ride off’ this great brute, indicating Major Bunbury, and I got the worst of it. I was in hospital for a month, and grew a thundering big black beard. Couldn’t shave for six weeks.

Don’t make me sick, said Lady Susan, beginning heartily on biscuits and cheese. If I’d known that in time I wouldn’t have married you. A little man with a beard’s like a cob with a long tail. Couldn’t do with you if you’d a long tail, Hughie.

I’m goin’ to grow another when we get down to French’s Court, retorted Hughie. I shan’t have anything else to do there. What on earth do you do with yourself at Letter Kyle, Slaney?

Do you grow a beard, Slaney? shouted Lady Susan, with her mouth full of biscuit. If I’m bored over there I shall just dye my hair again. How do you like it now, Bunny? I got it done in Paris on our way through. I think it might be a bit redder.

Why, it’s as red as a fox now, said Major Bunbury, regarding it critically.

Talking of foxes, put in Slaney, endeavouring to be genial, they all expect Hugh to start the hounds again when he comes over. That will give you something to do, Hugh.

Tally ho! uttered Major Bunbury, with a subdued whoop. That’s a rippin’ good notion. I’ll come over and whip for you, Hughie.

No, you won’t! cried Lady Susan. "I’ll whip for him myself; but I don’t