She was dummy now and was absorbed in watching Major Benjy’s tragical mismanagement of the hand, for he was getting into a sadder bungle than anyone, except perhaps Lucia, could have involved himself in. Withers entered while this was going on, and gave Elizabeth a parcel. With her eye and her mind still glued to the cards, she absently unwrapped it, and took its contents from its coverings just as the last trick was being played. It was the picture she had sent to the art committee the day before and with it was a typewritten form to convey its regrets that the limited wall-space at its disposal would not permit of Miss Mapp’s picture being exhibited. This slip floated out on to the floor, and Georgie bent down and returned it to her. She handed it and the picture and the wrappings to Withers, and told her to put them in the cupboard. Then she leaned over the table to her partner, livid with mixed and uncontrollable emotions.

‘Dear Major Benjy, what a hash!’ she said. ‘If you had pulled out your cards at random from your hand, you could not, bar revokes, have done worse. I think you must have been having lessons from dear Lulu. Never mind: live and unlearn.’

There was an awful pause. Even the players at the other table were stricken into immobility and looked at each other with imbecile eyes. Then the most surprising thing of all happened.

‘’Pon my word, partner,’ said Major Benjy, ‘I deserve all the scoldings you can give me. I played it like a baby. I deserve to pay all our losings. A thousand apologies.’

Elizabeth, though she did not feel like it, had to show that she was generous too. But why didn’t he answer her back in the usual manner?

‘Naughty Major Benjy!’ she said. ‘But what does it matter? It’s only a game, and we all have our ups and downs. I have them myself. That’s the rubber, isn’t it? Not very expensive after all. Now let us have another and forget all about this one.’

Diva drew a long breath, as if making up her mind to something, and glanced at the watch set with false pearls (Elizabeth was sure) on her wrist.

‘Rather late to begin again,’ she said. ‘I make it ten minutes to seven. I think I ought to be going to dress.’

‘Nonsense, dear,’ said Elizabeth. ‘Much too early to leave off. Cut, Major Benjy.’

He also appeared to take his courage in his hands, not very successfully.

‘Well, upon my word, do you know, really Miss Elizabeth,’ he babbled, ‘a rubber goes on sometimes for a very long while, and if it’s close on seven now, if, you know what I mean… What do you say, Pillson?’ It was Georgie’s turn.

‘Too tarsome,’ he said, ‘but I’m afraid personally that I must stop. Such a delightful evening. Such good rubbers…’