Claud, though not (he hoped) hen-hearted, felt not the smallest impulse ***to ride straight at the worse oxer in the county, or to take the shine (at the risk of his neck) out of every other top-sawyer on the road; while as for putting on the gloves with Gentleman Jackson, there was almost nothing he less wished to do.*** But he was not without ambition
i mean maybe some more context from the book might be needed to get an accurate answer but i think it's all literal yh