Even his failures were sensational.

As Adela had said of him, he was amazing.
Hill's play was absolutely steady.

It lacked the vitality of the younger man's, but it had about it a clockwork species of regularity that Dot found curiously pleasing to watch.

She had not thought that her interest could be so deeply aroused; before the game was half through she was as deeply absorbed as anyone present.
It did not take her long to realize that public sympathy was entirely on Warden's side, and it was that fact more than any other that disposed her in Fletcher's favour.

She saw that he had a hard fight before him, for Warden led almost from the beginning, though with all his brilliancy he never drew very far ahead.