Miss Harrup did not make a direct reply, but she kept
counting out button- moulds, used instead offish, and observed,

" Those large ones with the shanks are half-a-dozen."

" I say, Kate," continued Mr. Dipnall in the same whispei:
as he pressed her foot, " we are partners, you know."

" Miss Newton," said Mr. Flitter, to the young lady,
"shall we join our banks?"

'J'be girl was too delighted.
Miss Harrup looked at her like Devonshire cream that has
stopped too long at the terminus; and then replied to Mr.
Dipnall :

" Oh, yes: we'll be pardners.
" What shall the counters be? " asked another.
"A penny a dozen," said Miss Harrup; " and you are no*
ft^ bet more than six, or less than two."

" Charming," said Mr, Flitter, as he paid sixpence tor



243' TkE POTTLfiTOU tHlGACT.
himself abd Miss Newton, and received the buttob-iut)uld&
which he put into the lucifer-box used for a pool. " Noi*
then, the first knave deals; I wonder who it is."

By some singular chance, the first knave fell to Mr. Dipnalii
— almost as if Mr. Flitter had intended it — at which there
was great laughter — such being an occurrence when it is
always proper to indulge in ridicule at the luckless object
and to say that it was just what you expected. And then
Iilr. Dipnall, after apologizing for his hands, the nails of which
were rather inor^Of'the chesnut than the filbert pattern, began
to deal.
The game went on as games at vingt-et-un usually do.
