PARSON.—“Stop! Stop! trump my diamond?”
THE CAPTAIN (solemnly).—“‘Trick turned; play on, Squire.”
SQUIRE.—“The king of diamonds.”
MRS. HAZELDEAN.—“Lord! Hazeldean, why, that’s the most barefaced revoke,—ha, ha, ha! trump the queen of diamonds and play out the king! well, I never! ha, ha, ha!”
CAPTAIN BARNABAS (in tenor).—“Ha, ha, ha!”
SQUIRE.—“Ho, ho, ho! bless my soul! ho, ho, ho!”
CAPTAIN BARNABAS (in bass).—“Ho, ho, ho!”
Parson’s voice raised, but drowned by the laughter of his adversaries and the firm, clear tone of Captain Barnabas.—“Three to our score!—game!”
SQUIRE (wiping his eyes).—“No help for it; Harry, deal for me. Whom ought I to ask, Mrs. Dale?” (Waxing angry.) “First time I ever heard the hospitality of Hazeldean called in question!”
MRS. DALE.—“My dear sir, I beg a thousand pardons, but listeners—you know the proverb.”