Chapter 30

           

           Atlengththeplaycametoanend,andMrIsaacListrosetheonlywinner.Matandthelandlordboretheirlosseswithprofessionalfortitude.Isaacpocketedhisgainswiththeairofamanwhohadquitemadeuphismindtowin,allalong,andwasneithersurprisednorpleased.

           Nell’slittlepursewasexhausted;butalthoughitlayemptybyhisside,andtheotherplayershadnowrisenfromthetable,theoldmansatporingoverthecards,dealingthemastheyhadbeendealtbefore,andturningupthedifferenthandstoseewhateachmanwouldhaveheldiftheyhadstillbeenplaying.Hewasquiteabsorbedinthisoccupation,whenthechilddrewnearandlaidherhanduponhisshoulder,tellinghimitwasnearmidnight.

           ‘Seethecurseofpoverty,Nell,’hesaid,pointingtothepackshehadspreadoutuponthetable.‘IfIcouldhavegoneonalittlelonger,onlyalittlelonger,theluckwouldhaveturnedonmyside.Yes,it’sasplainasthemarksuponthecards.Seehereandthereandhereagain.’

           ‘Putthemaway,’urgedthechild.‘Trytoforgetthem.’

           ‘Trytoforgetthem!’herejoined,raisinghishaggardfacetohers,andregardingherwithanincredulousstare.‘Toforgetthem!HowareweevertogrowrichifIforgetthem?’

           Thechildcouldonlyshakeherhead.

           ‘No,no,Nell,’saidtheoldman,pattinghercheek;‘theymustnotbeforgotten.Wemustmakeamendsforthisassoonaswecan.Patiencepatience,andwe’llrighttheeyet,Ipromisethee.Loseto-day,winto-morrow.Andnothingcanbewonwithoutanxietyandcarenothing.Come,Iamready.

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