"No, not a bit; only it can't be any pleasure to you, I'm so stupid," said Ben.
"I tell you what it is, Ben Pepper, you are not stupid," declared Jasper, warmly; "now don't say so again," he begged.
"Oh, I won't if it makes you feel badly," said Ben, laughing, "only I shall think so."
"You mustn't think so," declared Jasper, decidedly; "and do hurry and get the table and the men."
So the little game-table, inlaid and beautiful, was carefully brought out and set in place by Ben, the box of chessmen put in Jasper's hands, and then Ben sat down to the table.
"You choose this time," said Ben, picking up a red and also a white piece, to hold back of him, "only, as I said—"
"Ugh!" interrupted Jasper, "you weren't to say that again. You promised, Ben," he added reproachfully.
"So I did," said Ben. "Well, I won't again."
"See that you don't," said Jasper, laughing. "Well—I choose the left hand. Oh! You have the first move," as a white pawn came to view.
And after that there was nothing heard in the big room but the ticking of the French clock, and the crackling of the hickory logs, if we except Ben's hard breathing when his men were pushed pretty hard.