Cousin William, how liked you the whammel you got from James' lance in your final course ?" "Not that ill," said the silent Master; "I am indeed better at taking than at giving.

James is a stouter lance than I shall ever be--" "Not so," cried jolly James.

"Our Will never doth himself justice.

He is for ever reading Deyrolles and John Froissard in order to learn new ways and tricks of fence, which he practises on the tilting ground, instead of riding with a tight knee and the weight of his body behind the shaft of ash.

That is what drives the tree home, and so he gets many a coup.