As for Mrs.O'Toole she never forgave me, and was always saying spiteful things.

But I got even with her once.

One evening the doctor, who was her partner at whist, was called out, and I was ordered to take his place.

Now, I played a pretty good game at whist, better than the doctor did by a long chalk I flattered myself; but I didn't often play at home unless I was wanted to make up a table, and very glad I was to get out of it, for the ill-temper of those old harridans when they lost was something fearful.
"It was only penny points, but if they had been playing for five pounds they couldn't have taken it more to heart; and of course if I had the misfortune of being their partner they put it down entirely to my bad play.

Well, we held good cards, and at last we only wanted the odd trick to win.