Barry Pain

“ Jane had, and having for the moment done all that she could, Jane retired, not to reappear until ten o'clock, when she brought in a tray, and Mrs. Ingelby took one glass of very weak whisky-and-soda, always under protest. These little things were arranged and fixed. The vicar and Marjory and Jane all knew their parts.
And now a silence reigned, and the battle raged on the green cloth. But to-night it could hardly be called a battle. The vicar and Marjory held all the cards. Mrs. Ingelby struggled hard but ineffectually; no amount of skill could have saved her from defeat. ”

“ Many thanks. and are you going to be allowed to be one of the whist-party, my dear?"
"Oh, yes!" she said. "I am entirely forgiven."
"Look here!" said the vicar. "I am not a curious man, as a rule, but I wish you'd tell me what on earth you did it for. By the way, I must return to your aunt the points that I received over that first rubber. I had forgotten that."
"Oh, no, you mustn't!" said Marjory. "I never cheated at all in the first rubber."
"Well," said the vicar, "this beats me. The luck was all with us, and you were doing splendidly. Why on earth should you——?" ”

“ Marjory said that she wished to play whist. Mrs. Ingelby hesitated. Was it decent? As she was doing it merely to oblige the child, she decided that it was decent. She sent for the doctor to dine with her that night, and played whist afterwards until nearly eleven o'clock. She won ninepence, and went to bed triumphant. After that, the question of propriety was not raised again, and there was a whist-party every week. There was always someone in the village who could be asked to make a third at the table. ”