Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno Concluded.djvu/173

IX] possible to say words so as to make them begin with capitals!) "ca'n't answer me!"

"I never bet," she sternly replied.

"Not even sixpenny points at whist?"

"Never!" she repeated. "Whist is innocent enough: but whist played for money!" She shuddered.

Arthur became serious again. "I'm afraid I ca'n't take that view," he said. "I consider that the introduction of small stakes for card-playing was one of the most moral acts Society ever did, as Society."

"How was it so?" said Lady Muriel.

"Because it took Cards, once for all, out of the category of games at which cheating is possible. Look at the way Croquet Is demoralising Society. Ladies are beginning to cheat at it, terribly: and, if they're found out, they only laugh, and call it fun. But when there's money at stake, that is out of the question. The swindler is not accepted as a wit. When a man sits down to cards, and cheats his friends out of their money, he doesn't get much fun out of itunless he thinks it fun to be kicked down stairs!"