He has lived here all his life, and only been away three or four times." They played until the dressing-bell rang.

Then Cecil de la Borne rose from his seat with a peevish exclamation.
"My luck seems dead out," he said.
The Princess raised her eyebrows.
"Possibly, my dear boy," she said, "but you must admit that you also played abominably.

Your last declaration of hearts was indefensible, and why you led a diamond and discarded the spade in Lord Ronald's 'no trump' hand, Heaven only knows!" "I still think that I was right," Cecil declared, a little sullenly.
The Princess said nothing, but turned toward the door.
"Any one dining to-night, Mr.Host ?" she said.
"No one," he answered.

"To tell you the truth there is no one to ask within a dozen miles, and you particularly asked not to be bothered with meeting yokels." "Quite right," the Princess answered, "only I am getting a little bored, and if you had any yokels of the Mr.Andrew sort, with just a little more polish, they might be entertaining.

You three men are getting deadly dull." "Princess!" Lord Ronald declared reproachfully.