James Matthew Barrie

What Every Woman Knows James Matthew Barrie

James Wylie is about to make a move on the dambrod, and in the little Scotch room there is anawful silence befitting the occasion. James with his hand poised-for if he touches a piece he has toplay it, Alick will see to that-raises his red head suddenly to read Alick's face. His father, who isAlick, is pretending to be in a panic lest James should make this move. James grins heartlessly, andhis fingers are about to close on the 'man' when some instinct of self-preservation makes him peeponce more. This time Alick is caught: the unholy ecstasy on his face tells as plain as porridge that hehas been luring James to destruction. James glares; and, too late, his opponent is a simple old fatheragain. James mops his head, sprawls in the manner most conducive to thought in the Wylie family, and, protruding his underlip, settles down to a reconsideration of the board. Alick blows out hischeeks, and a drop of water settles on the point of his nose. You will find them thus any Saturday night (after family worship, which sends the servant to bed);and sometimes the pauses are so long that in the end they forget whose move it i