The premature coldness of the air forced the company at the Castle to
renounce all sedentary amusements. While the ladies and gentlemen
occupied themselves with billiards; the boys played at bowls, ball,
humming-top, and German top. The young ladies got hold of the bowls
and nine-pins. They were lucky enough to discover three places which
had been purposely adapted for this amusement, in a part of the garden
which was very little frequented by Victor and his companions. Some of
them, who did not like bowls, amused themselves with playing at
Puss-in-the-Corner. (_See the Frontispiece._)
[Illustration: Girls playing nine-pins]
The ground destined for this game was a straight path, which had on
each side a small bank, to hinder the bowl from running out of the
path. They divided the bowls equally, and they drew lots to determine
how they were to play. The lady, who drew Number one, threw the
_jack_, that is to say, the only small bowl at a distance; the _jack_
is regarded as the goal; the player then rolled one of her bowls as
near as she could to it. Number two came next; the one who drew it,
tried to approach still nearer to the goal, or to displace the bowl
which the preceding player had thrown. Numbers three and four followed
in their turn.
Instead of each playing upon their own account, the best method is to
form two parties, every member of each party having the same interest.
The art of the game consists sometimes in _drawing_; that is to say,
to drive at a distance the adversary’s bowl, if it has approached very
near the goal, in order that the player who follows you, may be able
to get nearer the goal than your adversary.
While the Misses D’Hernilly and their young companions were playing at
this game, they were frequently teased by their nursery governess, who
kept calling out to them, “Take care, young ladies, you will dirty
your clothes.” They often disputed which had won the game by
approaching nearest the goal; and as, on these occasions, there was
sometimes less than half an inch difference, the thing was not easily
determined.
Speaking of this game, reminds us of a strange circumstance which
happened to the celebrated Marshal Turenne. As he was one day walking
upon the ramparts of a city in which his troops then were, without
servants, or any mark of distinction, he was accosted by a group of
workmen who were playing at bowls, and who begged that he would decide
a difference which had arisen between them about the game. The Marshal
measured the distance with his cane, and then pronounced judgment. The
man against whom he had decided, revenged himself by abuse. The
Marshal smiled, which irritated the angry player still further. At
this moment, the officers belonging to the Marshal’s suite, came up
and addressed him as my lord; the poor workman, equally frightened and
ashamed when he found whom he had insulted, threw himself at Turenne’s
feet, to implore his pardon. The Marshal raising him, said kindly, “My
friend, you were wrong in supposing I would deceive you.”
Our young players had very seldom any dispute at nine-pins, for it was
easy to reckon the nine-pins that were thrown down, and those which
remained standing. Madame D’Hernilly put the young ladies in mind of
an anecdote which is related in the memoirs of the younger Racine. The
great poet Boileau became disgusted with poetry in his old age, and
grew passionately fond of nine-pins. Such was his address, that
sometimes he threw down the nine with one stroke. “Acknowledge,” cried
he one day, “that I possess two great talents, which are equally
useful to the state and to society; that of playing at nine-pins to
perfection, and that of writing tolerable verses.”
When the game is played with small nine-pins, and that you throw the
bowl only a short distance, the players throw alternately; but it more
frequently happens, that a player has two throws running, and this is
the manner in which they proceed. Number one throws his bowl at a
distance to the place marked for the goal; he must, in this first
throw, knock down at least one pin, otherwise he is obliged to remain
there for a time; this is what they call making _white cabbage_, and
he gives up the turn to the player on the opposite side. But if he has
thrown down one or two pins, and particularly that in the middle,
which alone reckons for nine points, he throws a second time, throwing
the bowl from the place in which it has previously stopped. He then
reckons the points he has gained, and leaves the place to Number two,
and so on. The grand difficulty of this game is not to make more
points than is necessary: the number is usually 21; and if, after
having gained 19 points, you happen to throw down two pins, you win
the game; but if you are so unlucky as to throw down three or four,
you _burst_, and are obliged to begin the game again. This occasions
great variety, and renders the strength of the two players equal. It
requires a great deal of practice to enable you to gain the dexterity
necessary to knock down at once a considerable number of nine-pins,
and you can never be certain of throwing down one, two, or three, just
at the moment you wish.
Adriana had less taste than the others for this game, it required too
much precision; and, at the same time, a degree of strength above her
age.
Ernestina, Valeria, and the rest of the eldest girls, received, about
this time, a present of a set of nine-pins, of a different sort from
those we have been speaking of. They compose the game called _Siam_.
You lose at it, also, by making too many points; and you are then
said, as in the other, to _burst_. Your fate is decided more
frequently by chance at _Siam_ than at nine-pins, for you cannot
always guide the quoit at will, which serves to throw down the pins.
The quoit is made of a hard close wood, the edge of it is cut a little
sloping, so as to describe a curve it is directed circularly either to
the right or to the left.
This game is very common in India, and as it was introduced into
France during the reign of Louis XIV., by people in the suite of the
ambassador of Siam, who was at that time at the Court of Versailles,
it has retained the name of their country.
The nine-pins are not all of the same value; those which are ranged in
a circle reckon each for one point; three others which form the point
of the opposite side count for 5, 4, and 3; the one in the middle is
called the Siam, but it is necessary to throw that down by itself,
otherwise the player loses all the points he has gained before, and is
obliged to begin again.
The rock upon which the player is apt to split, is, as we have already
said, the going beyond the number of points fixed upon; and no skill
can avert this danger which may arise from the slightest chance, such
as the least unevenness of the ground, or even a little sand upon the
quoit; from causes thus trivial, the game is frequently lost, just at
the moment that the player appears to be on the point of gaining it.
Our young people amused themselves, for the rest of the autumn, with a
review of the games which had delighted them during the spring and
summer; they returned to the capital in the beginning of November. The
young ladies eagerly resumed the lessons which they took from their
different masters. Victor, who for the first time, obtained a prize at
the University, entered into a higher class, where he strove with a
laudable emulation to surpass his fellow collegians. The Misses
D’Hernilly, instructed by the first masters in the knowledge of
languages, and in every other accomplishment suitable to their rank,
passed their leisure hours in society, selected for them by their
mother, and chiefly under her own eye. Between study and relaxation
their time flew rapidly, but both the young ladies and their brother,
often recollected with pleasure, the amusements they had enjoyed at
the castle D’Hernilly, and looked forward with delight, although
without impatience, to the period when returning to the country they
should once more resume their healthful and exhilarating sports.
Thus in their early season, gay,
In life’s delightful month of May,
Between those necessary hours,
When kind instruction gravely pours
Its various lessons on the mind,
Of knowledge useful or refin’d:
Thus female youth their time employ,
To strengthen _Health_ or waken _Joy_,
While Reason’s rip’ning state prepares
For other pleasures, other cares.