The Misses D’Hernilly, to whom this idea had been communicated, took advantage of it to run races with the rope. Nothing could be more graceful than their manner of performing those races; several grown-up people, who were lookers-on, agreed that the skipping-rope, thus used, was as conducive to health, as it was useful in giving the young ladies an easy and graceful carriage, and that they might amuse themselves with it not only without impropriety, but with advantage.
The premature coldness of the air forced the company at the Castle to renounce all sedentary amusements. While the ladies and gentlemen occupied themselves with billiards; the boys played at bowls, ball, humming-top, and German top. The young ladies got hold of the bowls and nine-pins. They were lucky enough to discover three places which had been purposely adapted for this amusement, in a part of the garden which was very little frequented by Victor and his companions. Some of them, who did not like bowls, amused themselves with playing at Puss-in-the-Corner. (_See the Frontispiece._)
The ground destined for this game was a straight path, which had on each side a small bank, to hinder the bowl from running out of the path. They divided the bowls equally, and they drew lots to determine how they were to play. The lady, who drew Number one, threw the _jack_, that is to say, the only small bowl at a distance; the _jack_ is regarded as the goal; the player then rolled one of her bowls as near as she could to it. Number two came next; the one who drew it, tried to approach still nearer to the goal, or to displace the bowl which the preceding player had thrown. Numbers three and four followed in their turn.
Instead of each playing upon their own account, the best method is to form two parties, every member of each party having the same interest. The art of the game consists sometimes in _drawing_; that is to say, to drive at a distance the adversary’s bowl, if it has approached very near the goal, in order that the player who follows you, may be able to get nearer the goal than your adversary.
While the Misses D’Hernilly and their young companions were playing at this game, they were frequently teased by their nursery governess, who kept calling out to them, “Take care, young ladies, you will dirty your clothes.” They often disputed which had won the game by approaching nearest the goal; and as, on these occasions, there was sometimes less than half an inch difference, the thing was not easily determined.