On the present occasion Anthony, challenged to combat with his coat and cuffs on, and wielding the more awkward weapon of the two impromptu foils, found himself distinctly at a disadvantage. Moreover, he was at the moment not precisely in the mood for fun, and he began to defend himself with a somewhat lazy indifference. After a minute or two, however, he discovered that his adversary’s slightly ruffled temper was inspiring her hand and wrist to distinctly effective work, and he found himself forced to look to his methods.
Attack and parade, disengagement and thrust—the battle was waged over the uneven ground of the wood. And presently Anthony discovered that the richly glowing face opposite his was a smiling one. The absurdity of the match struck him irresistibly and he smiled in return. He tripped a little over an obtruding oak-root, and Juliet took advantage of her opportunity to press him hard. He fended off the attack and himself assumed the aggressive. An instant more and he had disarmed her and had thrown his own stick flying after hers. Both were laughing heartily enough.
“Forgive the trick,” cried Anthony. “A man must disarm his wife when she becomes his enemy.”
Breathless, Juliet sank upon a small knoll, her hand at her side. “If I’d been dressed for it—” she panted.
“You need coaching on your time thrusts, but you gave me plenty to do as it was,” Anthony admitted. “More than that, you’ve presented me with a chance to recover my equilibrium. I was hot inside before. Now it’s all on the outside.”
He looked down at her affectionately. She smiled back. “I was crosser than sticks,” she said. “I really can’t imagine why, now. I apologise.”
“So do I.” He threw himself down on the ground at her feet, lay flat on his back, his clasped hands behind his head, and gazed up into the tree-tops.
“I’ll take your advice into careful consideration,” said he.
“I know you won’t do anything rash,” said she, and they both laughed again.
“How much more diplomatic that sort of talk is,” he observed. “Why do we ever allow ourselves to use any other?”