"Such are not her methods." Instead
she smiles: "indulgently." She says it is only natural for grown-
ups to like playing cards. She is not angry with him. And there is
no need for him to run away and hide in a nasty damp cave. "SHE
HERSELF WILL PLAY WHIST WITH HIM." The effect upon the Colonel is
immediate: he bursts into tears. She plays whist with him in the
garden: "After school hours. When he has been GOOD." Double dummy,
one presumes. One leaves the Colonel, in the end, cured of his
passion for whist. Whether as the consequence of her play or her
influence the "Rough Notes" give no indication.
In the play, I am inclined to think, Veronica received assistance.
The house had got itself finished early in September. Young Bute has
certainly done wonders. We performed it in the empty billiard-room,
followed by a one-act piece of my own. The occasion did duty as a
house-warming. We had quite a crowd, and ended up with a dance.
Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves, except young Bertie St.
Leonard, who played the Prince, and could not get out of his helmet
in time for supper. It was a good helmet, but had been fastened
clumsily; and inexperienced people trying to help had only succeeded
in jambing all the screws. Not only wouldn't it come off, it would
not even open for a drink. All thought it an excellent joke, with
the exception of young Herbert St. Leonard. Our Mayor, a cheerful
little man and very popular, said that it ought to be sent to PUNCH.
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