But as for the sport itself they were there to see, the center of all
these bright accessories, "The Racing," my ladies did not understand it,
nor try, nor care a hook-and-eye about it. But this mild dignified
indifference to the main event received a shock at 2 p. m.: for then the
first heat for the cup came on, and Edward was in it. So then Racing
became all in a moment a most interesting pastime--an appendage to
Loving. He left to join his crew. And, soon after, the Exeter glided down
the river before their eyes, with the beloved one rowing quietly in it:
his jersey revealed not only the working power of his arms, as sunburnt
below the elbow as a gipsy's, and as corded above as a blacksmith's, but
also the play of the great muscles across his broad and deeply indented
chest: his oar entered the water smoothly, gripped it severely, then came
out clean, and feathered clear and tunably on the ringing rowlock: the
boat jumped and then glided, at each neat, easy, powerful stroke. "Oh,
how beautiful and strong he is!" cried Julia. "I had no idea.
Presently the competitor for this heat came down: the Cambridge boat,
rowed by a fine crew in broad-striped jerseys.
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