“Yes, sometimes, perhaps,” said I, “but not often.”
“And sometimes they don’t lose them at backsword?” said he.
“Well, perhaps not, Sir.”
“Then it seems that all that can be said against backsword is, that it is a harder trial of the temper than other games. Surely that’s no reason for stopping it, but only for putting it under strict rules. The harder the trial the better. I’m sure that’s good English sense.”
I didn’t quite know what to say, but Miss Lucy broke in again.
“Oh, but Mr. Warton, did you ever see any backsword play?”
“Now, Miss Lucy, that is against law,” said he; “but I don’t mind answering. I never did, and I dare say your champion never has.”
“No, Sir,” said I; “but though you may have got the best of me, I don’t believe you really mean that you think us wrong.”
“Would you, really, Sir, preach a sermon now in favour of backsword play and wrestling?” asked Miss Lucy, with a long face.
“What’s that got to do with it, Lucy?” broke in Joe. “We’re not talking about preaching sermons, but about what’s right for country chaps to do at pastimes.”