“I am sorry for it,” said Miss Matilda; “but I draw the line at billiards. It is a detestable game, played on a green cloth which is the flag of gambling, and—”
“If you will take my advice, Matty, you will hold your tongue,” said Sir Hampton. “My guests will like a game at billiards, and I’ll be bound to say, before we’ve had the table in the house a month, you’ll be playing a game yourself.”
“Hampton!”
“Same as you do at whist.”
“I oblige your guests, and make up your horrid rubbers.”
“But I say, aunty, you do like winning, you know,” chimed in Fin.
“Oh, my dear, I—”
“You pocketed fifteen shillings—I won’t say ‘bob,’ because it’s slangy,” said Fin, laughing mischievously.
“I protest, I—”
“Er-rum!—I will not hear another word. We start for town to-morrow; and, my dears, you asked me once for horses—you shall have them. Fin, my child, don’t strangle me! There, now, see how you’ve rumpled my cravat!”