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Reade, Charles, 1814-1884

"A Woman-Hater"

Sir, I am
resolved."
"Oh, if you are resolved, there is no more to be said. I won't run my
head against a brick wall."
Ina, being half a foreigner, thought this rather brusk. She looked at him
askant, and said, quietly, "Others, besides me, can be stubborn, and get
their own way, while speaking the language of submission. Not I invented
volition."
With this flea in his ear, the faithful Joseph went off, chuckling, and
obtained an advance from the manager, and then proceeded to the principal
gaming-table, and, after waiting some time, secured a chair, which he
kept for his chief.
An hour went by; an hour and a half. He was obliged, for very shame, to
bet. This he did, five francs at a time; and his risk was so small, and
his luck so even, that by degrees he was drawn into conversation with his
neighbor, a young swell, who was watching the run of the colors, and
betting in silver, and pricking a card, preparatory to going in for a
great _coup._ Meantime he favored Mr. Ashmead with his theory of chances,
and Ashmead listened very politely to every word; because he was rather
proud of the other's notice: he was so handsome, well dressed, and well
spoken.


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