[
{"chunk":110,"story":8,"summary":"A retired officer, dressed with great care, sets out on a hot afternoon and overtakes a friend who stares uneasily at his loud tie.","predicament":"A man nervously setting out to do something that matters to him is stopped by a friend with questions."},
{"chunk":111,"story":8,"summary":"The officer confides he is going to propose to a widow; his friend, equally dressed up, says he is on the same errand, and the two race along the road.","predicament":"A man discovers a friend is after the same person he is, on the same day, and each races to get there first."},
{"chunk":112,"story":8,"summary":"Followed by jeering boys, they stop and agree they cannot propose together, but neither will yield the day, each pleading an excuse.","predicament":"Two rivals agree someone must go first, and neither will be the one to wait."},
{"chunk":113,"story":8,"summary":"Each claims precedence; the officer vows that if they go together he will match any proposal on the spot, and refuses to be put off.","predicament":"Two rivals for the same prize trade claims of priority, and each suspects the other of a trick."},
{"chunk":114,"story":8,"summary":"The officer proposes they play one game of chess for the right to propose first; the friend agrees, on condition that if the winner is refused, the loser may not propose without his permission.","predicament":"Two rivals agree to settle who goes first by a game, and one slips in a condition the other does not examine."},
{"chunk":115,"story":8,"summary":"The officer offers his rival a large brandy, which the rival sets aside; after a long game the rival checkmates him with a bishop the officer had forgotten.","predicament":"A man who tried to tip a contest in his favour loses it through his own oversight."},
{"chunk":116,"story":8,"summary":"The winner tidies himself in the loser's house and goes off to propose; the loser waits up all night and next morning goes to hear the result.","predicament":"A man who lost the right to try first must wait while his rival takes his chance."},
{"chunk":117,"story":8,"summary":"The rival was refused, but holds the officer to the condition and plans to keep proposing until the widow accepts him.","predicament":"A man finds the rival he lost to has been refused, but can still use the terms of their bargain to keep him out."},
{"chunk":118,"story":8,"summary":"The rival says he will warn the widow off the officer, suggests the officer court her companion instead, and the officer storms out and sulks for weeks.","predicament":"A man bound by a promise he made watches a rival use it to keep him from what he wants."},
{"chunk":119,"story":8,"summary":"Meeting the widow by chance, the officer confesses the chess game to explain his absence; she is indignant, then laughs.","predicament":"A man who has been avoiding someone he cares for must explain why, and the only honest answer is embarrassing."},
{"chunk":120,"story":8,"summary":"She says she is angry with him for losing, and proposes a plan so that he can win at cards what he lost at chess, under the rival's eyes.","predicament":"A man bound by a rash promise finds the person he hoped to win is willing to help him get round it."},
{"chunk":121,"story":8,"summary":"Playing cards, the widow asks the officer if he would like her hand; he takes it and kisses it, she 'meant the cards', then lets him keep it, and the rival is left fuming.","predicament":"Someone arranges to accept the suitor she prefers in a way his rival cannot object to."}
]