Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/44

34 times, till experience proved the contrary. At length he grew desperate, and we were daily on the look out for a case of felo-de-se—no great matter, some of us whispered, as his existence had ceased to be an acquisition to our club. At last, however, he came to a check. He made a large stake which he determined should be the last, whether he lost or won. He had often so determined before, to be sure, and as often broken his determination; and so it was this time. He lost; and while his antagonist smilingly swept away the stakes, he, turning chalky white, drew back in silence and wiped his forehead. I was present at the time; and while he stood with folded arms and eyes fixed on the ground, I knew well enough what was passing in his mind.

"Is it to be the last, Lowborough?" said I, stepping up to him.

"The last but ,' he answered, with a grim smile; and then, rushing back to the table, he struck his hand upon it; and raising