A Social Meteor — page 40: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

30 A SOCIAL METEOR. own men, so they laughed and chatted as much and as loudly as they chose, without the fear of being criticised by outsiders. The popping of the champagne corks made an _ excellent accom- paniment forthe bright sparkling laughter which went round the table. It certainly was a jolly party, and Ray had shown much tact in her selection of individuals, for there apparently was not an unsociable one among them. When they had finished, the ladies gathered around the big old fashioned fire-place, and told stories or repeated stray bits of gossip while the men strolled off to look at the horses or have a game of billiards. Toward the end of the afternoon some one pro- duced a pack of cards and proposed poker, which suggestion was met by four or five, with instant and loud approval. Soa small table was cleared, and with beans in lieu of chips, the game was commenced. Ray, rather to Georgie’s surprise, took a hand, and at first luck favored her singularly; she seemed unable to: lose, though she made the most daring draws. “I shall certainly pity you, my poor Clarence, when you have tocash all these miserable little Eomicbooks (E(o)