Otherwise he would not unwillingly have inquired to-morrow into the Statistics of the controversy between the waters of the wells and of the casks, prepared to walk over to the victorious, however objectionable that proceeding.
He hoped to question his master some day except that his master would very naturally have a tendency to sum-up in favour of wine--good wine, in moderation; just as Miss Graves for the cup of tea--not so thoughtfully stipulating that it should be good and not too copious.
Statistics are according to their conjurors; they are not independent bodies, with native colours; they needs must be painted by the different hands they pass through, and they may be multiplied; a nought or so counts for nothing with the teller.

Skepsey saw that.

Yet they can overcome: even as fictitious battalions, they can overcome.

He shrank from the results of a ciphering match having him for object, and was ashamed of feeling to Statistics as women to giants; nevertheless he acknowledged that the badge was upon him, if Miss Graves should beat her master in her array of figures, to insist on his wearing it, as she would, she certainly would.

And against his internal conviction perhaps; with the knowledge that the figures were an unfortified display, and his oath of bondage an unmanly servility, the silliest of ceremonies! He was shockingly feminine to Statistics.
Mr.Durance despised them: he called them, arguing against Mr.Radnor, 'those emotional things,' not comprehensibly to Skepsey.