Come now! you can't pretend you are reluctant to lay down your work.

I know you never take it up except to pass an idle hour, when there is nothing better you can do.' 'But chess-players are so unsociable,' I objected; 'they are no company for any but themselves.' 'There is no one here but Milicent, and she--' 'Oh, I shall be delighted to watch you!' cried our mutual friend.

'Two such players--it will be quite a treat! I wonder which will conquer.' I consented.
'Now, Mrs.Huntingdon,' said Hargrave, as he arranged the men on the board, speaking distinctly, and with a peculiar emphasis, as if he had a double meaning to all his words, 'you are a good player, but I am a better: we shall have a long game, and you will give me some trouble; but I can be as patient as you, and in the end I shall certainly win.' He fixed his eyes upon me with a glance I did not like, keen, crafty, bold, and almost impudent;--already half triumphant in his anticipated success.
'I hope not, Mr.Hargrave!' returned I, with vehemence that must have startled Milicent at least; but he only smiled and murmured, 'Time will show.' We set to work: he sufficiently interested in the game, but calm and fearless in the consciousness of superior skill: I, intensely eager to disappoint his expectations, for I considered this the type of a more serious contest, as I imagined he did, and I felt an almost superstitious dread of being beaten: at all events, I could ill endure that present success should add one tittle to his conscious power (his insolent self-confidence I ought to say), or encourage for a moment his dream of future conquest.

His play was cautious and deep, but I struggled hard against him.

For some time the combat was doubtful: at length, to my joy, the victory seemed inclining to my side: I had taken several of his best pieces, and manifestly baffled his projects.