first I appointed men of no rank to act as umpires,
but I had to discontinue that. These people
were no easier to please than other nines. The
umpire’s first decision was usually his last;
they broke him in two with a bat, and his friends toted
him home on a shutter. When it was noticed that
no umpire ever survived a game, umpiring got to be
unpopular. So I was obliged to appoint somebody
whose rank and lofty position under the government
would protect him.
Here are the names of the nines:
BESSEMERS
ULSTERS
KING ARTHUR. EMPEROR
LUCIUS.
KING LOT OF LOTHIAN. KING LOGRIS.
KING OF NORTHGALIS. KING MARHALT OF
IRELAND.
KING MARSIL. KING MORGANORE.
KING OF LITTLE BRITAIN. KING MARK OF CORNWALL.
KING LABOR. KING NENTRES OF
GARLOT.
KING PELLAM OF LISTENGESE. KING MELIODAS
OF LIONES.
KING BAGDEMAGUS. KING OF THE LAKE.
KING TOLLEME LA FEINTES. THE SOWDAN OF
SYRIA.
Umpire—CLARENCE.
The first public game would certainly draw fifty thousand
people; and for solid fun would be worth going around
the world to see. Everything would be favorable;
it was balmy and beautiful spring weather now, and
Nature was all tailored out in her new clothes.
THE INTERDICT
However, my attention was suddenly snatched from such
matters; our child began to lose ground again, and
we had to go to sitting up with her, her case became
so serious. We couldn’t bear to allow
anybody to help in this service, so we two stood watch-and-watch,
day in and day out. Ah, Sandy, what a right heart
she had, how simple, and genuine, and good she was!
She was a flawless wife and mother; and yet I had
married her for no other particular reasons, except
that by the customs of chivalry she was my property
until some knight should win her from me in the field.
She had hunted Britain over for me; had found me
at the hanging-bout outside of London, and had straightway
resumed her old place at my side in the placidest
way and as of right. I was a New Englander,
and in my opinion this sort of partnership would compromise
her, sooner or later. She couldn’t see
how, but I cut argument short and we had a wedding.
Now I didn’t know I was drawing a prize, yet
that was what I did draw. Within the twelvemonth
I became her worshiper; and ours was the dearest and
perfectest comradeship that ever was. People
talk about beautiful friendships between two persons
of the same sex. What is the best of that sort,
as compared with the friendship of man and wife, where
the best impulses and highest ideals of both are the
same? There is no place for comparison between
the two friendships; the one is earthly, the other
divine.
