But who taught you to play ?' 'Nobody, Miss Swancourt,' he said.

'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr.Knight, the noblest man in the world.' 'But you have seen people play ?' 'I have never seen the playing of a single game.

This is the first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living opponent.

I have worked out many games from books, and studied the reasons of the different moves, but that is all.' This was a full explanation of his mannerism; but the fact that a man with the desire for chess should have grown up without being able to see or engage in a game astonished her not a little.

She pondered on the circumstance for some time, looking into vacancy and hindering the play.
Mr.Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board, but apparently thinking of other things.