Page 51 of The Cheapside Runners
It abruptly struck Mary that wasexactlywhat Reverend Fordyce seemed to think. He disguised his contempt, but it was clear as day for those who looked closely enough.
“I belatedly understand your point, Mrs Black, but it would help if you could justify it with scripture.”
She did not enjoy being stared down by her thoroughly intimidating sister one bit, but thought that if she was afraid ofLizzy,what hope did she have against a scoundrel.
“I get some flavour of that question every time, so you are not ploughing new ground. I shall oblige you, but keep in mind that most of the religious texts werealsowritten by men.”
Mary wondered if her sister liked men at all. The thought had never occurred to her, and she became even more anxious to understand what happened to the sweet and impertinent girl she remembered from the schoolroom, before she hied off to London right after she came out.
“I shall leave it to you to look up the words yourself, just as I encourage everyone to do their own thinking, but there are specific instructions in both Luke and Exodus justifying self-defence, even when lethal. Thomas Acquinus and John Wesley both suggest violence and even death for self-defence is perfectly acceptable. I suppose none of you are interested, but the Jewish Talmud and the Muslim Koran have similar passages. If you prefer non-religious views, I recommend John Locke, William Blackstone, or Thomas Hobbes. If you have had your fill of men’s opinions, Mary Wollstonecraft has a great deal to say, all of it sensible, but youdefinitelymay want to omit that part to your guardians.”
The last bit of levity left the ladies laughing, though it was a tense sort of laugh. They had not even begun the training, and they were already uncomfortable.
~~~~~
Mrs Black led them over to a wooden stand with a padded box of some sort attached between two posts.
“Which of you thinks they are the strongest?” she asked nonchalantly.
The students all looked back and forth for a moment until Miss Green volunteered, as her teacher knew she would.
“Oh!” said Lydia stoutly, “I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest, I’m the tallest.”
“I can see that. Come along then.”
They walked over to the frame and Mrs Black helped her charge place her hand in a large, padded leather glove with linen lining.
“This is padded with horsehair. It will mostly protect your hand, though I do not recommend testing it on a rock.”
Lydia was excitedly trying out the glove by hitting her own hand.
Mrs Black said, “All right, here is the first rule. What have I been teaching you this past week… Miss Blue?”
Jane looked flummoxed a minute, but eventually guessed, “How to avoid these situations?”
“EXACTLY!That is your first line of defence… Rule Number 1…Do not do stupid things!”
“But Sir Walter said his daughter did nothing wrong.”
“Agreed, and that is why you are learning to defend yourselves, butthe best wayto win a fight is to avoid it in the first place. We are now to the place where rule number one has failed.”
They all nodded.
“Rule Number Two:Run from danger if you can.If you find yourself in an untenable situation, run fast and do not hesitate.”
“When would you run?” Miss Violet asked.
“At the first whiff of danger. Suppose you are approached on an isolated balcony at a ball. Do not tell a man to leave. Do not engage him at all. Justleave!The blackguard almost certainly will not expect it, so you can be back inside among people before he even gets his wits about him. Naturally, you would want to get someone else to help you clip his wings against future attacks, but you will at least be safe for the moment.”
The ladies nodded, and Mary said, “That obviously will not work if you are alone, far away from people.”
“Unfortunately, yes, which is when we come to the next rule. Most men can outrun you and outfight you, so you have to outfox them.”
She turned back to her device.
“See the padded box there, Miss Green. I want you to breakit.”
Lydia looked at the board gleefully, walked over, wound up her arm, and gave it a good punch. She was mightily disappointed when her hand bounced off with no effect aside from hurting more than she expected. It was not broken, but it did not feel perfect either.
