She learnt more steadily than either of the boys.
One day George rode over with two pairs of boxing-gloves dangling from his saddle.

After lessons he and Taffy had a try with them, in a clearing behind the shrubberies where the gardener had heaped his sweepings of dry leaves to rot down for manure.
"But, look here," said George, after the first round; "you'll never learn if you hit so wild as that.

You must keep your head up, and watch my eyes and feint." Taffy couldn't help it.

As soon as ever he struck out, he forgot that it was not real fighting.

And he felt ashamed to look George straight in the face, for his own eyes were full of tears of excitement.