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party。 Rumours have been put about in our family； concerning the matter
generally； but more particularly concerning my own share in it； and
remarks have been passed which have not so much surprised me； because
I know what our family are； but which have pained me very much。 As
for my Aunt Maria； I do not know when I shall care to see her again。 I
should have thought Aunt Maria might have known me better。
But although injusticegross injustice； as I shall explain later onhas
been done to myself； that shall not deter me from doing justice to others；
even to those who have made unfeeling insinuations。 I will do justice to
Aunt Maria's hot veal pasties； and toasted lobsters； followed by her own
special make of cheesecakes； warm （there is no sense； to my thinking； in
cold cheesecakes； you lose half the flavour）； and washed down by Uncle
John's own particular old ale； and acknowledge that they were most tasty。
I did justice to them then； Aunt Maria herself could not but admit that。
After supper； Uncle brewed some whisky…punch。 I did justice to that
also； Uncle John himself said so。 He said he was glad to notice that I
liked it。
Aunt went to bed soon after supper； leaving the local curate； old Dr。
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Scrubbles； Mr。 Samuel Coombes； our member of the County Council；
Teddy Biffles； and myself to keep Uncle company。 We agreed that it was
too early to give in for some time yet； so Uncle brewed another bowl of
punch； and I think we all did justice to thatat least I know I did。 It is a
passion with me； is the desire to do justice。
We sat up for a long while； and the Doctor brewed some gin…punch
later on； for a change； though I could not taste much difference myself。
But it was all good； and we were very happyeverybody was so kind。
Uncle John told us a very funny story in the course of the evening。 Oh；
it WAS a funny story！ I forget what it was about now； but I know it
amused me very much at the time； I do not think I ever laughed so much
in all my life。 It is strange that I cannot recollect that story too； because
he told it us four times。 And it was entirely our own fault that he did not
tell it us a fifth。 After that； the Doctor sang a very clever song； in the
course of which he imitated all the different animals in a farmyard。 He
did mix them a bit。 He brayed for the bantam cock； and crowed for the
pig； but we knew what he meant all right。
I started relating a most interesting anecdote； but was somewhat
surprised to observe； as I went on； that nobody was paying the slightest
attention to me whatever。 I thought this rather rude of them at first； until
it dawned upon me that I was talking to myself all the time； instead of out
aloud； so that； of course； they did not know that I was telling them a tale at
all； and were probably puzzled to understand the meaning of my animated
expression and eloquent gestures。 It was a most curious mistake for any
one to make。 I never knew such a thing happen to me before。
Later on； our curate did tricks with cards。 He asked us if we had ever
seen a game called the 〃Three Card Trick。〃 He said it was an artifice by
means of which low； unscrupulous men； frequenters of race…meetings and
such like haunts； swindled foolish young fellows out of their money。 He
said it was a very simple trick to do： it all depended on the quickness of
the hand。 It was the quickness of the hand deceived the eye。
He said he would show us the imposture so that we might be warned
against it； and not be taken in by it； and he fetched Uncle's pack of cards
from the tea…caddy； and； selecting three cards from the pack； two plain
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cards and one picture card； sat down on the hearthrug； and explained to us
what he was going to do。
He said： 〃Now I shall take these three cards in my handsoand let
you all see them。 And then I shall quietly lay them down on the rug； with
the backs uppermost； and ask you to pick out the picture card。 And you'll
think you know which one it is。〃 And he did it。
Old Mr。 Coombes； who is also one of our churchwardens； said it was
the middle card。
〃You fancy you saw it；〃 said our curate； smiling。
〃I don't 'fancy' anything at all about it；〃 replied Mr。 Coombes； 〃I tell
you it's the middle card。 I'll bet you half a dollar it's the middle card。〃
〃There you are； that's just what I was explaining to you；〃 said our
curate； turning to the rest of us； 〃that's the way these foolish young fellows
that I was speaking of are lured on to lose their money。 They make sure
they know the card； they fancy they saw it。 They don't grasp the idea that
it is the quickness of the hand that has deceived their eye。〃
He said he had known young men go off to a boat race； or a cricket
match； with pounds in their pocket； and come home； early in the afternoon；
stone broke； having lost all their money at this demoralising game。
He said he should take Mr。 Coombes's half…crown； because it would
teach Mr。 Coombes a very useful lesson； and probably be the means of
saving Mr。 Coombes's money in the future； and he should give the two…
and…sixpence to the blanket fund。
〃Don't you worry about that；〃 retorted old Mr。 Coombes。 〃Don't you
take the half…crown OUT of the blanket fund： that's all。〃
And he put his money on the middle card； and turned it up。
Sure enough； it really was the queen！
We were all very much surprised； especially the curate。
He said that it did sometimes happen that way； thoughthat a man did
sometimes lay on the right card； by accident。
Our curate said it was； however； the most unfortunate thing a man
could do for himself； if he only knew it； because； when a man tried and
won； it gave him a taste for the so…called sport； and it lured him on into
risking again and again； until he had to retire from the contest； a broken
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and ruined man。
Then he did the trick again。 Mr。 Coombes said it was the card next
the coa