"Certainly we may."
"And allow that he can really do his work?"
"Rather!"
"Then it seems to me that Ruskin's rule may apply to other arts, but not to Cricket. For here is Richardson not only talking about fast bowling, but expressing himself with signal ease and precision. Listen to this, for instance:—
"'A ball is said to break when, on touching the ground, it deviates sharply from its original line of flight.'
"'A ball is said to break when, on touching the ground, it deviates sharply from its original line of flight.'
"And again:—"
"'A ball is said to have 'spin' on it when it gains an acceleration of pace, not necessarily a variation of direction, on touching the ground.'
"'A ball is said to have 'spin' on it when it gains an acceleration of pace, not necessarily a variation of direction, on touching the ground.'
"It would be hard, I think, to improve upon these definitions. But let me satisfy you that I was not exaggerating when I spoke of the dignity of Mr. Richardson's English style:—