One day Anstice did find her with a book in her hand; and on venturing to inquire into its contents was informed it was a well-known Treatise on Chess.
"Do you play?" he asked, rather astonished, for in common with many men he imagined chess to be almost purely a masculine pastime.
"Yes—at least I used to play once," she admitted slowly. "I can't very well indulge in a game nowadays. Even the grownup Cherry declines to play, though I hope in time I may incite her to learn!"
"I used to play—indifferently—once," Anstice said meditatively; and Chloe looked at him with a faint smile.
"Did you? Some day when you are not too busy will you drop in to tea and play a game with me?"
"I'd like to immensely." His tone was sincere, and Chloe's manner warmed ever so little.
"Can you stay now?" The hour was just on five; and Cherry, who had that day been promoted to tea downstairs, seconded the invitation as usual from her nest on the big Chesterfield.
"Do stay, my dear, and I'll help you to move all the funny little men and the castles!"
Anstice could not refuse this double invitation; and after a hasty cup of tea he and his hostess sat down to the board and set out the ancient ivory chessmen which were so well suited to the pretty, old-fashioned room in which the players sat.
To Anstice's quite unjustifiable surprise Chloe Carstairs played an admirable game. Her moves were clearly reasoned out, and she displayed a quickness of thought, a brilliance of man[oe]uvre, which soon convinced Anstice he was outplayed.