“I have nothing more to say,” returned Mrs. Wilfer, with a meek renunciatory action of her gloves. “It is as you think, R. W. ; not as I do.”

Here, the huffing of Miss Bella and the loss of three of her men at a swoop, aggravated by the coronation of an opponent, led to that young lady’s jerking the draught-board and pieces off the table: which her sister went down on her knees to pick up.

“Poor Bella!” said Mrs. Wilfer.

“And poor Lavinia, perhaps, my dear?” suggested R. W.

“Pardon me,” said Mrs. Wilfer, “no!”