It was before auction bridge when the dealer's position was an important one.
"I'm not reckless, am I?" Dick asked, appealing to his partner. "I'm as careful as a donkey walking by the side of a precipice."
"Just about," said Hertha, laughing.
Forgetful of the game, he looked at her as though he would devour her.
"Perhaps you will decide on something," Miss Wood remarked sarcastically, "or let your partner."
"Make it, partner," said Dick, but Hertha, frightened at the opportunity, threw down a good hand.
Certainly her partner never lectured her upon her poor plays. He was quite indifferent when she took his Queen with her King, and when in a burst of adventure she doubled her opponent and lost four tricks he proved to her that she had done exactly right. This disaster made her cautious and in the following hand, with four aces, she made it spades and scored eight points instead of a grand slam. When the modest figure was placed below the line her partner cheered her for her success.
"Really, Miss Ogilvie," Miss Wood said, "if you want to learn bridge you must not think that a make like that is good. It is quite wrong."
Hertha laughed acquiescence. She was having a good time and enjoying Dick's ridiculous talk as hand after hand he kept up a stream of comment. Mrs. Pickens laughed with them, but the fourth member of the party became angry.
"This is not bridge," she said, her hands shaking as she picked up the cards dealt her.