Pip, quite unmoved, parried this insult with another.
"Right-o," he said. "What shall I give you—a half?"
Elsie smiled indulgently.
"As a favour," she replied, "and to preserve your masculine pride, I will play you level. Otherwise——"
Pip interrupted. He was not looking quite so serene as usual, and he puffed almost nervously at his pipe.
"What shall we play for?" he asked.
"What do you mean?"
"In a match," he explained, "it is usual to play for some small stake—a ball, or a bottle of——"
"Nonsense!" said Elsie decidedly.
"Not a bit; it's often done," said Pip. "What shall we play for?"