Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/294

284 him. For some time the combat was doubtful, at length, to my joy, the victory seemed inclining to my side: I had taken several of his best pieces, and manifestly baffled his projects. He put his hand to his brow and paused, in evident perplexity. I rejoiced in my advantage, but dared not glory in it yet. At length, he lifted his head, and, quietly making his move, looked at me and said, calmly,—

"Now, you think you will win, don't you."

"I hope so," replied I, taking his pawn that he had pushed into the way of my bishop with so careless an air that I thought it was an oversight, but was not generous enough, under the circumstances, to direct his attention to it, and too heedless, at the moment, to foresee the after consequences of my move.

"It is those bishops that trouble me," said Ihe [sic]; "but the bold knight can overleap the reverend gentleman," taking my last bishop with his knight;—"and now, those sacred persons once removed, I shall carry all before me."