Compounded of the Greek words ισος equal, and χϱονος time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration: Three people looking at a diagram drawn on the ground.] CHAPTER X. _Marbles.--Antiquity of the game.--Method of manufacturing them.--Ring-taw.--Mr. Seymour, the Vicar, and Tom, enter the lists. The defeat of the two former combatants; the triumph of the latter.--A philosophical explanation of the several movements.--The subject of Reflected Motion illustrated.--The Vicar’s apology, of which many grave personages will approve._ In our last chapter we left Mr. Seymour and his reverend friend on their way to Ivy Cottage; it is only necessary to state that the major received them with that satisfaction and gratitude which the nature of their visit could not fail to produce. Plans were proposed, and arrangements concluded for the furtherance of the object we have announced; in short, in the brief space of an hour, the major had determined the course of his future life, and had framed schemes of happiness, and visions of domestic peace, which he impatiently sought to realize. The vicar was detained by the major, but Mr. Seymour quitted Ivy Lodge and returned to his family. He found the children engaged in playing at marbles. Tom was displaying to his sisters many instances of his adroitness and skill in shooting at and hitting marbles. “Why, Tom!” exclaimed Mr. Seymour, “how came you possessed of such a multitude of marbles?” “By luck; good luck, papa; I won them all before the holidays; and I can assure you that my school-fellows acknowledge me as one of the best players at _ring-taw_ in the school.” “Justly, then, has your merit been rewarded,” said the father. “Have you not read of the skilful Roman, who could blow peas through a quill, and deposit them with such nicety on the point of a pin, placed at some distance, as rarely to miss his aim?” “And what was his reward?” asked Tom. “A bushel of peas, my boy, which the emperor commanded to be presented to him. But do not misunderstand me, far be it from my wish to disparage your skill; whatever we undertake, we should endeavour to accomplish; I am, therefore, well pleased to find that you can play at marbles with so much success.” “I wonder who invented marbles?” said Tom. “That question, my dear, must be addressed to Mr. Twaddleton, who, I have no doubt, will immediately answer it.” Scarcely had these words been spoken, when the vicar appeared on the lawn. Mr. Seymour informed him of the subject of their conversation, and added, that he had just told the children he was sure he would readily answer their question.