she could hear the crazed roaring of the crowd a mile away , and , with a little sob , she collapsed into a corner , clapping her hands over her ears to block it out even as her eyes frantically sought out ink pot , pen and paper : your grace , you must forgive my shaky hand , but as i pen these words , your brother , who has taken a position as a pugilist for jonathan snelling , is engaged in a boxing match which has drawn the better half of berkshire and oxfordshire .