Zoe suspected these polychromatic ladies at a glance, and observed their manners, in a mistrustful spirit, carefully. She was little surprised, though a good deal shocked, to find that some of them seemed familiar, and almost jocular, with the croupiers; and that, although they did not talk loud, being kept in order by the general etiquette, they rustled and fidgeted and played in a devil-may-care sort of manner. This was in great measure accounted for by the circumstance that they were losing other people's money: at all events, they often turned their heads over their shoulders, and applied for fresh funds to their male companions.
Zoe blushed at all this, and said to Vizard, “I should like to see the other rooms.” She whispered to Miss Maitland, “Surely they are not very select in this one.”
“Lead on,” said Vizard; “that is the way.”
Fanny had not parted with his arm all this time. As they followed the others, he said, “But she will find it is all the same thing.”
Fanny laughed in his face. “Don't you see? C'est la chasse au Severne qui commence.”
“En voil'a un se'v'ere,” replied he.
She was mute. She had not learned that sort of French in her finishing-school. I forgive it.
The next room was the same thing over again.
Zoe stood a moment and drank everything in, then turned to Vizard, blushed, and said, “May we play a little now?”
“Why, of course.”