The Cricket Field/Chapter 9

He recoiled from the idea of attempting, unfortified by that fact, to extract twenty pounds from Sir Thomas for a card-debt. It was deuced awkward, this twenty pounds business. He knew that it was possible for a poor player to lose four hundred points in a twenty minutes' game, and usual for him to lose two hundred. Twenty minutes later, Hargate was looking somewhat ruefully at the score-sheet. Hargate repeated his remark. Hargate was watching him covertly. Hargate had not yet been compelled to sprain his wrist, having adopted the alternative of merely refusing invitations to play billiards. Lord Dreever could not afford to play picquet for a soverign a hundred, or, indeed, to play picquet for money at all; but, after his adversary's innuendo, what is billiards it was impossible for a young gentleman of spirit to admit the humiliating fact. A delicate pink flush might have been seen to spread itself over Lord Dreever's face. He felt as a toil-worn lion might feel if some antelope, instead of making its customary bee-line for the horizon, were to trot up and insert its head between his jaws. I bow down to you, O Cambridge, for upon me was conferred the honour of eating on the dais among the learned masters in a hall so vast and old that I felt as if I were only dreaming about it; I greet you with both hands, O Cambridge, for I was vouchsafed the joy of eating with students, masters and other young people from earthenware dishes in the Half Moon; and happy I was among them.

Lord Dreever laid down the paper. Hargate nodded, and obediently put down the deck. Plunging in out of breath, just as the deluge began, he found Hargate seated at the little wooden table with an earnest expression on his face. If you aren’t an expert at regular pool, the word ‘cutthroat’ can be a little off-putting when associated with billiards. Can you tell me who handed them in? Bertie’s preferences did not greatly matter; he was of the sort who can be stolidly happy with any kind of wife; he had cheerfully put up with his grandmother all his life, so was not likely to fret and fume over anything that might befall him in the way of a helpmate. He walked off, leaving Lord Dreever filled with the comfortable glow that comes to the weak man who for once has displayed determination. They began playing. Lord Dreever, as was only to be expected in a contest between teacher and student, won the first two hands. Charon informs me that the waste-baskets last week turned out forty-two reams of our best correspondence paper on which these poets had scribbled the first draft of their verses.

It showed, he reflected philosophically, how out of evil cometh good. Good sportsmanship involves showing respect for opponents, refraining from distracting behavior, and maintaining a positive attitude. He listened attentively while Lord Dreever explained at some length the principles that govern the game of picquet. Lord Dreever eyed his guest curiously. His lordship regarded his guest with annoyance. His lordship did not appear to have noticed it. Would you have him give fashionable parties? He would not have suggested it himself, but, after all, dash it, if the man really asked for it- It was not his fault if the winning of a hand should have given the fellow the impression that he knew all there was to be known about picquet. There is no doubt that his lordship ought at this suggestion to have corrected the novice's notion that ten shillings a hundred was fairly moderate. The son of a hundred earls was pale, and his eyes were markedly fish-like. This Madame Marneffe has made a slave of my father; he is her dog; she is mistress of his fortune and his opinions, and nothing can open his eyes. A slate table can range from $2,599 to over $10,000 depending on the pool table size and design.

She has been so every minute of every day for six-and-twenty years; but I am not like her, it is not my nature.-How can I help it? The first ball just grazed Pilch's wicket; the second took his bails; the third ball levelled Mynn, and the fourth Stearman; three of the best bats of the day. He stopped on the first landing to read the note, and at the opening line his jaw fell. He started to go upstairs, opening the envelope as he went. The envelope fluttered to the ground. Every now and then, he asked a question. But even if this is true of clubs, there is yet another aspect of the question, and that is, the question of distance. The fact is, he's a man I once employed over in New York, and, when I came across him over here, he was so evidently wanting a bit of help that I took him on again. For the success of the proposal he was about to make, he depended on this fact.