addressing the
people. He hesitated a good deal, nay, almost broke down, when he
gave the health of Sir Kennington Oval and the British sixteen; and I
was quite pleased to hear Lord Marylebone declare to his mother that
he was "a wonderfully nice boy." I think the English did try to turn
it off a little, as though they had only come out there just for the
amusement of the voyage. But Grundle, who had now become quite proud
of his country, and who lamented loudly that he should have received
so severe an injury in preparing for the game, would not let this
pass. "My lord," he said, "what is your population?" Lord Marylebone
named sixty million. "We are but two hundred and fifty thousand,"
said Grundle, "and see what we have done." "We are cocks fighting
on our own dunghill," said Jack, "and that does make a deal of
difference."

But I was told that Jack had spoken a word to Eva in quite a
different spirit before he had left Little Christchurch. "After all,
Eva, Sir Kennington has not quite trampled us under his feet," he
said.

"Who thought that he would?" said Eva. "My heart has never fainted,
whatever some others may have done."

CHAPTER VI.

THE COLLEGE.

I was surprised to see that Jack, who was so bold in playing his
match, and who had been so well able to hold his own against the
Englishmen,--who had been made a hero, and had carried off his
heroism so well,--should have been so shamefaced and bashful in
regard to Eva. He was like a silly boy, hardly daring to look her
in the face, instead of the gallant captain of the band who had
triumphed over all obstacles. But I perceived, though it seemed that
he did not, that she was quite prepared to give herself to him, and
that there was no real obstacle between him and all the flocks and
herds of Little Christchurch. Not much had been seen or heard of
Grundle during the match, and as far as Eva was concerned, he had
succumbed as soon as Sir Kennington Oval had appeared upon the scene.
He had thought so much of the English baronet as to have been cowed
and quenched by his grandeur. And Sir Kennington himself had, I
think, been in earnest before the days of the cricket-match. But
I could see now that Eva had merely played him off against Jack,
thinking thereby to induce the younger swain to speak his mind. This
had made Jack more than ever intent on beating Sir Kennington, but
had not as yet had the effect which Eva had intended. "It will all
come right,"