A Book o' Nine Tales Part 10

_Mrs. V._ Oh, is it my lead? I'm sure I don't know what to play. You always lead from your long suit, don't you? There, I hope that queen will be good.

_Mr. T._ No, it won't, for I have the ace.

_Mrs. V._ Oh, you mean man! Partner, can't you trump that?

_Colonel G._ I have suit.

_Miss V._ There, I have got to put the king on, and I think it is mean.

_Mr. T._ I am awfully sorry. If I'd only known--

_Miss V._ I shook my head at you, but you wouldn't look up.

_Mrs. V._ That wasn't fair, and you deserve to be beaten. Now my jack is good, any way.

_Mr. T._ It isn't your lead. I took the trick.

_Mrs. V._ Oh, I beg pardon.

_Miss V._ I would have trumped it, any way.

_Mr. T._ I wish I knew what you have.

_Miss V._ I wish I could tell you. Don't make it too dark.

_Mr. T._ Then I'll lead diamonds.

_Miss V._ That's just right.

_Mrs. V._ Diamonds are trumps.

_Miss V._ Oh, are they? Oh, that's too bad. I didn't want trumps led.

_Mr. T._ But you said-- Why, can't you go over Colonel Graham's nine-spot?

_Miss V._ I made a mistake. I meant to play the ten.

_Mrs. V._ Shall I put on a small one or a high one, Colonel Graham?

_Colonel G._ The trick is ours as it lies.

_Mrs. V._ Then if I put on a high one it will get it out of the way, so you'll know what to do next time.

_Mr. T._ Why, you've thrown away the king of trumps!

_Mrs. V._ Wasn't that right?

_Miss V._ Why, of course not, mamma. You ought to have put on either the ace or a low one.

_Colonel G._ It is your lead, Mrs. Vaughn.

_Mrs. V._ She says she'll trump hearts, and I can't play my knave. I'll try spades. I hope you'll take it.

_Mr. T._ And he did. How nice to have a partner do just what you tell him to.

_Miss V._ That means that I don't.

_Mr. T._ You are always satisfactory, whatever you do.

_Miss V._ What was led? Clubs? Are clubs trumps?

_Colonel G._ No; diamonds.

_Miss V._ Second hand low. I know that, at any rate, so there's a two-spot.

_Mr. T._ Your mother has taken it with the seven.

_Miss V._ Oh, and I had the ace, king, and queen. Ought I to have played one of those?

_Colonel G._ If you tell us your hand you must expect us to play to it.

_Miss V._ I didn't mean to tell.

_Mrs. V._ (_leading spades_). That was your suit, wasn't it?

_Mr. T._ But I hold the ace.

_Miss V._ It was your own lead, mamma. Any way, I'll trump it.

_Mr. T._ Why, you've trumped my ace.

_Miss V._ Oh, did I? I didn't mean to. Can't I take it back?

_Colonel G._ It is a little late, but still--

_Miss V._ Oh, well, never mind. Let it go. I have the king, any way (_leading it_).

_Colonel G._ But you just trumped a spade.

_Mrs. V._ A revoke! That gives us three points.

_Miss V._ Oh, it doesn't either! I didn't see that king at all when I trumped, and that was the only spade I had. I'll change it on the last trick, and then it will be all right.

_Mrs. V._ You can't do that; can she, Colonel Graham?

_Colonel G._ It isn't customary.

_Mr. T._ Oh, who wants to play the stiff club rules? I don't; there isn't any fun in whist if you are going to be so particular.