There were two whist tables, for Miss Stanbury could not bear to cut out.

At other houses than her own, when there was cutting out, it was quite understood that Miss Stanbury was to be allowed to keep her place.

"I'll go away, and sit out there by myself, if you like," she would say.

But she was never thus banished; and at her own house she usually contrived that there should be no system of banishment.

She would play dummy whist, preferring it to the four-handed game; and, when hard driven, and with a meet opponent, would not even despise double-dummy.