He looked very sad when he took his shillings out of his purse, and exceedingly pleased when he put the shillings that had just before belonged to other people into it.

Finally, by one of those arrangements common with married people who play at the same table, 'Mr.and--Mrs.Hazeldean were invariably partners, and no two people could play worse; while Captain Barnabas, who had played at Graham's with honour and profit, necessarily became partner to Parson Dale, who himself played a good steady parsonic game.

So that, in strict truth, it was hardly fair play; it was almost swindling,--the combination of these two great dons against that innocent married couple! Mr.Dale, it is true, was aware of this disproportion of force, and had often proposed either to change partners or to give odds,--propositions always scornfully scouted by the squire and his lady, so that the parson was obliged to pocket his conscience, together with the ten points which made his average winnings.
The strangest thing in the world is the different way in which whist affects the temper.

It is no test of temper, as some pretend,--not at all! The best-tempered people in the world grow snappish at whist; and I have seen the most testy and peevish in the ordinary affairs of life bear their losses with the stoicism of Epictetus.

This was notably manifested in the contrast between the present adversaries of the Hall and the Rectory.