THE JACK
Quickly the two men prepared for the struggle. They threw off
their coats and waistcoats, and then proceeded to remove their
boots.
Usually a girdle was cast over the right shoulder of each
wrestler, and was buckled under the left arm; but this was done
only when the shirt was removed. On the present occasion both
antagonists and spectators were too impatient to tarry till
suitable belts could be procured, and the two men were therefore
content to confront each other as they were, the right hand of
the one on the left side of the other, and the left hand on his
antagonist's right shoulder, looking into each other's eyes, and
with ears alert for the signal to begin.
One—two—three!
Then they stood with contracted brows, set lips, swaying from
side to side, the muscles rippling under the skin in their
exposed limbs. Then, suddenly, they grappled.
From the first round, Crispin ascertained two things. In the
first place, his antagonist was comparatively inexperienced; in
the next, his boast of superior strength was justified. It was
obvious to him that the contest would be one in which in his
opponent moderate skill was combined with extraordinary
force.
Crispin had not played often; only occasionally had he tried a
fall with a comrade, and he had never taken to the sport
seriously.
The clutch of Luke Francis's hand on Crispin's shoulder told
him that, could his adversary get the other hand in the same
position on his other shoulder, Francis would be able to double
him backwards and throw him, or snap his spine. But if Luke was
the most muscular in arm, Crispin had superior agility, in that
his legs were longer than those of his opponent.
After the first round—that proved without result—they
desisted, so as to gather breath.
Then they made ready for a second bout.
For a minute, as before, the two opponents stood swaying, otherwise motionless, and then by a sudden and simultaneous impulse, each clasped the other round the waist.
Bladys sat near the head of the bowling-green, too frightened, too bewildered to have eyes to see what went forward, or ears to hear the comments that passed. She sat in a dream, but the dream was a nightmare.
For some days she had been in a condition of nervous
excitation, her brain in a whirl. And now she was as one
stupefied, unconscious of what passed before, about her.
She had tortured her mind to discover some method to escape
from the predicament in which she was placed, and had found none. A hundred years ago, young unmarried women were not the emancipated beings that they are now. At present, a girl who is impatient of the restraints of home, or desires a change from its monotony, can enter a post-office, go behind a counter, or offer to be a cook, and be overwhelmed with applications for her inefficient services. A century ago, the case was wholly different. There were no situations open to women save those that were menial, and such as entered service were either apprenticed for three years, or hired at a statute fair for one. A twelvemonth was then the shortest term of service, whereas now, should a girl dislike her situation, not finding any eligible young men within attraction, she can say, "I will go at the end of a month," and away she flits.
Moreover, a hundred years ago, servants were kept only in the
houses of the gentry and in farms. The tradesmen attended to
their business, and their wives looked after the house. At that
time there was vast competition for a place, whereas now the
tables are reversed; there is competition among mistresses for a
servant.
And further still, discipline was then drawn tighter, and the
children dared not oppose their wishes to the will of their
parents; least of all, in such a matter as settlement in
life.
What could Bladys do as matters then were? In some instances a
girl broke through the net, and eloped. But to elope it takes
two; and the offer of Crispin Ravenhill came too late for her to
take advantage of it. She had, moreover, no ambition to jump into
any man's arms; her sole desire was to escape from the many arms
which were extended to receive her.