“Yes,” said Douglas; “I shall be delighted. But I fear you will beat me now, as I suppose you have been practising with Mr. Conolly.”
“Playing with Ned! No: he hates chess. He says it is a foolish expedient for making idle people believe they are doing something very clever when they are only wasting their time. He actually grumbled about the price of the table and the pieces; but I insisted on having them, I suppose in remembrance of you.”
“It is kind of you to say that, Marian. Will you have black or white?”
“White, please, unless you wish me to be always making moves with your men.”
“Now. Will you move?”
“I think I had rather you began. Remember our old conditions. You are not to checkmate me in three moves; and you are not to take my queen.”
“Very well. You may rely upon it I shall think more of my adversary than of my game. Check.”
“Oh! You have done it in three moves. That is not fair. I won’t play any more unless you take back that.”
“No, I assure you it is not checkmate. My bishop should be at the other side for that. There! of course, that will do.”
“What a noise Marmaduke makes over his cards! I hope the people next door will not hear him swearing.”