CHAPTER I.

ssionofscrutiny,tendingfartherandfartherawayfromtheglowofmingledundefinedsensibilitiesformingadmiration.Atonemomenttheyfollowedthemovementsofthefigure,ofthearmsandhands,asthisproblematicsylphbentforwardtodepositherstakewithanairoffirmchoiceandthenexttheyreturnedtothefacewhich,atpresentunaffectedbybeholders,wasdirectedsteadilytowardthegame.Thesylphwasawinnerandashertaperfingers,delicatelyglovedinpale-gray,wereadjustingthecoinswhichhadbeenpushedtowardherinordertopassthembackagaintothewinningpoint,shelookedroundherwithasurveytoomarkedlycoldandneutralnottohaveinitalittleofthatnaturewhichwecallartconcealinganinwardexultation. ButinthecourseofthatsurveyhereyesmetDeronda’s,andinsteadofavertingthemasshewouldhavedesiredtodo,shewasunpleasantlyconsciousthattheywerearrested—howlong?Thedartingsensethathewasmeasuringherandlookingdownonherasaninferior,thathewasofdifferentqualityfromthehumandrossaroundher,thathefelthimselfinaregionoutsideandaboveher,andwasexaminingherasaspecimenofalowerorder,rousedatinglingresentmentwhichstretchedthemomentwithconflict.Itdidnotbringthebloodtohercheeks,butitsentitawayfromherlips.Shecontrolledherselfbythehelpofaninwarddefiance,andwithoutothersignofemotionthanthislip-palenessturnedtoherplay.ButDeronda’sgazeseemedtohaveactedasanevileye.Herstakewasgone.Nomattershehadbeenwinningeversinceshetooktoroulettewithafewnapoleonsatcommand,andhadaconsiderablereserve.Shehadbeguntobelieveinherluck,othershadbeguntobelieveinit:shehadvisionsofbeingfollowedbyacortègewhowouldworshipherasagoddessofluckandwatchherplayasadirectingaugury.Suchthingshadbeenknownofmalegamblerswhyshouldnotawomanhavealikesupremacy?Herfriendandchaperonwhohadnotwishedhertoplayatfirstwasbeginningtoapprove,onlyadministeringtheprudentadvicetostopattherightmomentandcarrymoneybacktoEngland—advicetowhichGwendolenhadrepliedthatshecaredfortheexcitementofplay,notthewinnings.Onthatsuppositionthepresentmomentoughttohavemadetheflood-tideinhereagerexperienceofgambling.Yet,whenhernextstakewassweptaway,shefelttheorbitsofhereyesgettinghot,andthecertaintyshehad(withoutlooking)ofthatmanstillwatchingherwassomethinglikeapressurewhichbeginstobetorturing.Themorereasontoherwhysheshouldnotflinch,butgoonplayingasifshewereindifferenttolossorgain.Herfriendtouchedherelbowandproposedthattheyshouldquitthetable.ForreplyGwendolenputtenlouisonthesamespot:shewasinthatmoodofdefianceinwhichthemindlosessightofanyendbeyondthesatisfactionofenragedresistanceandwiththepuerilestupidityofadominantimpulseincludesluckamongitsobjectsofdefiance.Sinceshewasnotwinningstrikingly,thenextbestthingwastolosestrikingly.Shecontrolledhermuscles,andshowednotremorofmouthorhands.Eachtimeherstakewassweptoffshedoubledit.Manywerenowwatchingher,butthesoleobservationshewasconsciousofwasDeronda’s,who,thoughsheneverlookedtowardhim,shewassurehadnotmovedaway.Suchadramatakesnolongwhiletoplayout:developmentandcatastrophecanoftenbemeas