er crochet, while Tisdale, whose injured hand excluded him from the game,
seated himself beside her. He asked whimsically if she was manufacturing a
cloud like the one in the west where the sun had set; but she lacked her
sister's ready repartee, and, arresting her needle long enough to glance
at him and back to the woolly, peach-pink pile in her lap, answered
seriously: "It's going to be a hug-me-tight."

The lieutenant laughed. "Sounds interesting, does it not?" he said,
shuffling the cards. "But calm yourself, sir; a hug-me-tight is merely a
kind of sweater built on the lines of a vest."

He dealt, and Mrs. Feversham bid a lily. From his position Tisdale was
able to watch Mrs. Weatherbee's face and her cards. She held herself erect
in a subdued excitement as the game progressed; the pink flush deepened
and went and came in her cheek; the blue lights danced in her eyes.
Repeatedly she flashed intelligence to her partner across the board. And
the lieutenant began to wait in critical moments for the glance. They won
the first hand. Then it became apparent that he and Morganstein were
betting on the side, and Marcia remonstrated. "It isn't that we are
scrupulous alone," she said, "but we lose inspiration playing second
fiddle."

"Come in then," suggested Frederic and explained to the lieutenant: "She
can put up a hundred dollars and lose 'em like a soldier."

"The money stayed in the family," she said quickly. "Beatriz, it is your
bid."

Mrs. Weatherbee was calculating the possibilities of her hand. Her suit
was diamonds; seven in sequence from the jack. She held also the three
highest in clubs and the other black king. She was weak in hearts. "I bid
two diamonds," she said slowly, "and, Marcia, it's my ruby against your
check for three hundred dollars."

There was a flutter of surprise. "No," remonstrated Elizabeth sharply.
"No, Marcia can buy the ring for what it is worth."

"Then I should lose the chance to keep it. Three hundred will be enough to
lose." And she added, less confidently: "But if you should win, Marcia, it
is understood you will not let the ring go out of your hands."

"I bear witness," cried the lieutenant gallantly, "and we are proud to
play second when a Studevaris leads."

But Morganstein stared at her in open admiration. "You thoroughbred!" he
said.

"It shall stay in the family," confirmed Marcia.

Then Frederic bid two lilies, the lieutenant passed and Mrs. Feversham
raised to three