Maryland -- History -- Fiction; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Fiction
I had one experience with Master Philip before our visitors betook
themselves back to Kent, which, unfortunate as it was, I cannot but
relate here. My cousin would enter into none of those rough amusements
in which I passed my time, for fear, I took it, of spoiling his fine
broadcloths or of losing a gold buckle. He never could be got to
wrestle, though I challenged him more than once. And he was a well-built
lad, and might, with a little practice, have become skilled in that
sport. He laughed at the homespun I wore about the farm, saying it
was no costume for a gentleman's son, and begged me sneeringly to don
leather breeches. He would have none of the company of those lads with
whom I found pleasure, young Harvey, and Willis's son, who was being
trained as Mr. Starkie's assistant. Nor indeed did I disdain to join in
a game with Hugo, who had been given to me, and other negro lads. Philip
saw no sport in a wrestle or a fight between two of the boys from the
quarters, and marvelled that I could lower myself to bet with Harvey the
younger. He took not a spark of interest in the gaming cocks we raised
together to compete at the local contests and at the fair, and knew
not a gaff from a cockspur. Being one day at my wits' end to amuse
my cousin, I proposed to him a game of quoits on the green beside the
spring-house, and thither we repaired, followed by Hugo, and young
Harvey come to look on. Master Philip, not casting as well as he might,
cries out suddenly to Hugo: “Begone, you black dog! What business have
you here watching a game between gentlemen?”
“He is my servant, cousin,” I said quietly, “and no dog, if you please.
And he is under my orders, not yours.”
But Philip, having scarcely scored a point, was in a rage. “And I'll
not have him here,” he shouted, giving poor Hugo a cuff which sent him
stumbling over the stake. And turning to me; continued insolently: “Ever
since we came here I have marked your manner toward us, as though my
father had no right in my grandfather's house.”
Then could I no longer contain myself. I heard young Harvey laugh, and
remark: “'Tis all up with Master Philip now.” But Philip, whatever else
he may have been, was no coward, and had squared off to face me by the
time I had run the distance between the stakes. He was heavier than I,
though not so tall; and he parried my first blow and my second, and many
more; having lively work of it, however, for I hit him as often as I was
able. To speak truth, I had not looked for such resistance, and seeing
that I could not knock him down, out of hand, I grew more cool and began
to study what I was doing.
“Take off your macaroni coat,” said I. “I have no wish to ruin your
clothes.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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