seemed to think that first hit of his and one or two others were going
to matter, that I ought to give in when presently my lip bled and
dripped blood upon my clothes. So before we had been at it a minute
he had ceased to be aggressive except in momentary spurts, and I was
knocking him about almost as I wanted to do; and demanding breathlessly
and fiercely, after our school manner, whether he had had enough, not
knowing that by his high code and his soft training it was equally
impossible for him to either buck-up and beat me, or give in.

I have a very distinct impression of Beatrice dancing about us during
the affair in a state of unladylike appreciation, but I was too
preoccupied to hear much of what she was saying. But she certainly
backed us both, and I am inclined to think now--it may be the
disillusionment of my ripened years--whichever she thought was winning.

Then young Garvell, giving way before my slogging, stumbled and fell
over a big flint, and I, still following the tradition of my class and
school, promptly flung myself on him to finish him. We were busy
with each other on the ground when we became aware of a dreadful
interruption.

"Shut up, you FOOL!" said Archie.

"Oh, Lady Drew!" I heard Beatrice cry. "They're fighting! They're
fighting something awful!"

I looked over my shoulder. Archie's wish to get up became irresistible,
and my resolve to go on with him vanished altogether.

I became aware of the two old ladies, presences of black and purple silk