'I thought you liked chess, Freda?' said Miss Hall.
'Oh, pretty well, when I can get any one who does not beat me. I hate so to lose a game that I think it is better not to play at all than to run the risk of feeling in a passion, and not being able to give vent to it.'
'Perhaps the better plan would be to control the passion,' said Miss Hall.
'Impossible! I am sure it must be just such a feeling as a good general would have if he lost a battle, after having done his best to win it.'
'I suppose the best general is always the calmest, both in victory and defeat,' murmured Rowland, without taking his eyes from his men.
'If you would oblige me by not talking,' said Mr Gwynne nervously; 'I can never play if my opponent talks.'
'I beg your pardon,' said Rowland; 'I know it is very disagreeable.'
'Are you too tired to visit some of your old haunts, Serenità?' said Freda. 'By the way that would be a good name for Mr Prothero's ideal general.'
'Not quite,' began Rowland, but was silent in a moment.
'My dear Freda, are you going out? I really am sorry to stop your amusement, and so forth, but I cannot play,' said Mr Gwynne.