am wrong again, of course.'

'Perhaps your wrong is more pleasing than their right.'

'I don't quite know whether you mean that, or whether you are laughing
at me,' she said, looking doubtingly at him, yet inclining to accept the
more flattering interpretation. 'I am almost sure you think it vanity in
me to think I am a match for you. Well, if you do, I say that vanity is
no crime in such a case.'

'Well, perhaps not. Though it is hardly a virtue.'

'Oh yes, in battle! Nelson's bravery lay in his vanity.'

'Indeed! Then so did his death.'

Oh no, no! For it is written in the book of the prophet Shakespeare--

"Fear and be slain? no worse can come to fight;
And fight and die, is death destroying death!"

And down they sat, and the contest began, Elfride having the first move.
The game progressed. Elfride's heart beat so violently that she could
not sit still. Her dread was lest he should hear it. And he did discover
it at last--some flowers upon the table being set throbbing by its
pulsations.

'I think we had better give over,' said Knight, looking at her gently.
'It is too much for you, I know. Let us write down the position, and
finish another time.'

'No, please not,' she implored. 'I should not rest if I did not know the
result at once. It is your move.'

Ten minutes passed.

She started up suddenly. 'I know what you are doing?' she cried, an
angry colour upon her cheeks, and her eyes indignant. 'You were thinking
of letting me win to please me!'

'I don't mind owning that I was,' Knight responded phlegmatically, and
appearing all the more so by contrast with her own turmoil.

'But you must not! I won't have it.'

'Very well.'

'No, that will not do; I insist that you promise not to do any such
absurd thing. It is insulting me!'

'Very well, madam. I won't do any such absurd thing. You shall not win.'

'That is to be proved!' she returned proudly; and the play went on.

Nothing is now heard but the ticking of a quaint old timepiece on the
summit of a bookcase. Ten minutes pass; he captures her knight; she
takes his knight, and looks a very Rhadamanthus.

More minutes tick away; she takes his pawn and has the advantage,
showing her sense of it rather prominently.

Five minutes more: he takes her bishop: she brings things even by taking
his knight.

Three minutes: she looks bold, and takes his queen: he looks placid, and
takes hers.

Eight or ten minutes pass: he takes a pawn;