Between his enjoyment of society and the melancholy it engendered in his mind by reflecting on him the age and decrepitude of his hat, Mr. John Raikes was doubtful of his happiness for some time.  But as his taste for happiness was sharp, he, with a great instinct amounting almost to genius in its pursuit, resolved to extinguish his suspicion by acting the perfectly happy man.  To do this, it was necessary that he should have listeners:  Evan was not enough, and was besides unsympathetic; he had not responded to Jack’s cordial assurances of his friendship ’in spite of anything,’ uttered before they came into the field.

Heat and lustre were now poured from the sky, on whose soft blue a fleet of clouds sailed heavily.  Nick Frim was very wonderful, no doubt.  He deserved that the Gods should recline on those gold-edged cushions above, and lean over to observe him.  Nevertheless, the ladies were beginning to ask when Nick Frim would be out.  The small boys alone preserved their enthusiasm for Nick.  As usual, the men took a middle position.  Theirs was the pleasure of critics, which, being founded on the judgement, lasts long, and is without disappointment at the close.  It was sufficient that the ladies should lend the inspiration of their bonnets to this fine match.  Their presence on the field is another beautiful instance of the generous yielding of the sex simply to grace our amusement, and their acute perception of the part they have to play.

Mr. Raikes was rather shy of them at first.  But his acting rarely failing to deceive himself, he began to feel himself the perfectly happy man he impersonated, and where there were ladies he went, and talked of days when he had creditably handled a bat, and of a renown in the annals of Cricket cut short by mysterious calamity.  The foolish fellow did not know that they care not a straw for cricketing fame.  His gaiety presently forsook him as quickly as it had come.  Instead of remonstrating at Evan’s restlessness, it was he who now dragged Evan from spot to spot.  He spoke low and nervously.

‘We’re watched!’

There was indeed a man lurking near and moving as they moved, with a speculative air.  Writs were out against Raikes.  He slipped from his friend, saying: 

’Never mind me.  That old amphitryon’s birthday hangs on till the meridian; you understand.  His table invites.  He is not unlikely to enjoy my conversation.  What mayn’t that lead to?  Seek me there.’

Evan strolled on, relieved by the voluntary departure of the weariful funny friend he would not shake off, but could not well link with.

A long success is better when seen at a distance of time, and Nick Frim was beginning to suffer from the monotony of his luck.  Fallow field could do nothing with him.  He no longer blocked.  He lashed out at every ball, and far flew every ball that was bowled.  The critics saw, in this return to his old practices, promise of Nick’s approaching extinction.  The ladies were growing hot and weary.  The little boys gasped on the grass, but like cunning circulators of excitement, spread a report to keep it up, that Nick, on going to his wickets the previous day, had sworn an oath that he would not lay down his bat till he had scored a hundred.