So I should strongly advise you to hedge your bets if you can." "What does he mean by hedge, uncle ?" "To hedge is to bet the other way, so that one bet cancels the other." "Oh, I shan't do that," she said; "I have enough money to pay my bets if I lose." "Do you mean to say you mean to pay your bets if you lose, Miss Hannay ?" the Doctor asked incredulously.
"Of course I do," she said indignantly.

"You don't suppose I intend to take the gloves if I win, and not to pay if I lose ?" "It is not altogether an uncommon practice among ladies," the Doctor said, "when they bet against gentlemen.

I believe that when they wager against each other, which they do not often do, they are strictly honest, but that otherwise their memories are apt to fail them altogether." "That is a libel, Mrs.Hunter, is it not ?" "Not altogether, I think.

Of course many ladies do pay their bets when they lose, but others certainly do not." "Then I call it very mean," Isobel said earnestly.

"Why, it is as bad as asking anyone to make you a present of so many pairs of gloves in case a certain horse wins." "It comes a good deal to the same thing," Mrs.Hunter admitted, "but to a certain extent it is a recognized custom; it is a sort of tribute that is exacted at race time, just as in France every lady expects a present from every gentleman of her acquaintance on New Year's Day." "I wouldn't bet if I didn't mean to pay honestly," Isobel said.