THE SIX OF SPADES. 39 



Slashers (it is only fair towards our neighbours at 

 Slawmey to remark that their best bowler was 

 unable to attend, in consequence of a very pressing 

 engagement at the treadmill of our county jail), and 

 was carried from the wickets upon the shoulders of 

 his rejoicing and victorious friends, I saw the bright 

 colour rise on Mary's cheek as vivid as the poinsettia; 

 and again, when in our contest with the picked eleven 

 from Moughboro' some clumsy ruffian, shying in widely, 

 hit our pet batsman on the head, and 



" Round he spun, and down lie fell," 



I saw poor Mary indeed I went to tell her that there 

 was no serious hurt, having an earnest sympathy 

 with lovers vainly endeavouring to conceal her sore 

 distress, and as white as a Christmas rose. And so it 

 came to pass, on a moonlit January night, when, in 

 spite of the Under- whip's protestations, that " he 

 never could see the use of them frosses," the Castle 

 lake had been covered with skaters and spectators ; 

 it came to pass that Mr. Chiswick, after astonishing 

 every one with his " eagles," and figures, and " outside 

 edge," walked home with Mary Oldacre. And he told 

 her, as they walked, his winter's tale. He spoke of 

 his loneliness in his cottage-home with so much bitter 

 plaint, that you would imagine the Moated Grange of 

 Mariana, or the Haunted House so wondrously 

 described by Hood, to have been quite festive resi- 

 dences, halls of dazzling light, and abodes of the 

 fairies, when compared with his Den of Despair. He 

 described in harrowing terms "the fearful sense of 



