“Well, my old friends. Mikey Mahon would be the better of an ass and car, I know, and Mrs. Curran is lost for a good pig, and Larry Duff’s cow went and died on him, so I’ve told them to buy a nice little young Kerry; and there was coals badly wanted, and I sent Peggy Curran a dress piece, and Mrs. Hogan a weather-glass and a visitors’ book, for the last one was spoiled on her, and full of impudence and poetry.” “What have you left?” interrupted Tito impatiently. “Here it is--twenty-five pounds”--and she held it out. “I am sorry I’m short. What will you do for the rest?” “I’ll borrow from Robins the butler.” “Goodness, girl alive! Isn’t that queer doings?” “Oh, Robins knows me; he is a family friend, and rolling in tips. Well, Joe, you _are_ decent. I’ll pay you next quarter.” “No, no, let me give you the money; I really don’t want it. I wish you would promise me not to--I won’t say play bridge--I’m not a born fool; but not to play for so much.” “I’ll promise farthing points with pleasure; I will indeed,” said Tito emphatically. “I’m sick of the whole thing. I love the game, but I loathe losing my money, and I’m not a very good player, for I’m too hasty and emotional, like you! By the way, why do you sit up here all by your little lone?” “Where else would you have me sit? They are not missing me downstairs, are they?” she asked, with a sarcastic laugh. “And when I’m here, I’m not making a show of myself.” “They _are_ a horrid pack, most of them! Old Lady Boxhill--I suppose she’ll take the Prince--Lady Towton, Mrs. Folly, and Gussie Tripp--hateful! But you should not let them draw you out about wakes, and dances, and your schooling, and so on.” “Sure, I see that, and I’m getting wiser now. I thought they wanted information, they all seemed so eager with questions. Now, I know ’twas only laughing they were.” “Tony disapproves of them; says they are--well, no matter; and he was horrified at my losing this money”; and she held up the notes. “He never plays high now; he simply refuses anything more than half a crown a hundred. You can lose quite enough at that.” “Can ye now?” “Once, he told me, he played with a very smart woman, who said, ‘What shall we have on?’ And she named quite a big stake--something like half-crown points. He was ashamed to refuse. However, he won, and won, and had great luck. He won about a hundred, and they stopped. She said, ‘I’ll settle at once.’ ‘Oh, no, no hurry,’ he said, thinking it was such a big sum, he would give her time. ‘I always pay money down,’ she said, and handed him ten shillings. ‘What is this for?’ he asked. ‘What I’ve lost to you,’ she answered, as bold as brass, naming some decimal points. He was struck dumb. Of course, being a woman, he could not argue with her. Afterwards, he heard, that it was a habit of hers to play this trick, and that if he had _lost_, she would have come down on him for her hundred pounds.” “Then she is a cheat!” cried Joseline.