The interior of the boxing tent was thick with people. Granville kept a tight hold on me and together we followed my brother and Mr. Bowden as they pushed us a path through the crowd. At length I was able to see the stage, on which there was a square of ropes, strung upon poles. We had not long to wait before two figures ascended there and faced each other with fists raised. This I had expected; that one of them might be a lady boxer, I had never in my life imagined. She made an indecent figure; her flannel petticoats had been pinned up and above her boots she was wholly naked to the knee. Her stays had been loosened. I could not stop staring at her. Her assailant was a great brute of a man; surely, surely, they could not really be meant to fight?