There was a brief scrimmage about sides, Regina wanting Lesbia for a partner, and Derrick indignantly protesting against two girls playing together. He carried his point, and conducted the visitor to what he considered the more advantageous quarter of the court, leaving John and his sister to have the sun in their eyes. Magsie and Una constituted themselves umpires, and called out the score with keen satisfaction. The Websters were fairly good players, and Lesbia enjoyed herself, especially as she and Derrick were winning all along the line. In the middle of the second game she began to be aware of spectators. There was a paling between the side of the garden and a lane, and over the top of these wooden boards faces that seemed somehow familiar would peep for a moment and then vanish. It was only after several of these sudden bobbing appearances that her eyes recognized the well-known features of Ermie, Cissie, and Aldora. At the first convenient opportunity she pointed them out to her hostess. "Hello, you girls! Show yourselves properly," yodelled Regina, running to the palings. Audible giggles came from the lane, then sounds of hoisting, finally three smiling faces peered across the fence. "You'd better come over and have tea. It's almost ready," invited Regina hospitably. "No, thanks," (Ermie was spokeswoman). "We're going to tea at Cissie's. We only looked in to see how you were getting on. We thought you'd be turtle-doving." "We're playing tennis." "So I see. We don't want to butt in. Just came to find the flags flying that's all." (With a grimace at Lesbia.) "We _do_ apologize. Sorry to be on the earth. Or rather on the palings. Can't hold up any longer. Ta-ta!" Ermie disappeared with a sudden drop, followed by Cissie and Aldora. To judge from the sound of footsteps they ran hurriedly away down the lane. Lesbia looked relieved. She did not want Regina to realize what fun the girls made of her infatuation. She was so deadly in earnest about everything that it seemed a shame to tease her. "Besides which she might think I had been cackling to them and put them up to coming," thought Lesbia, turning hot at the notion. "I'll spifflicate those three on Monday, when I catch them. It was beastly cheek to track me here just to try and rag. They ought to know better manners, and I shall tell them so. Won't I pitch into them just! I'll make them absolutely shrivel!" But aloud she simply said very calmly: "It's your serve, Regina. We were thirty--forty. _Do_ let us try and finish this set before tea if we can." CHAPTER XIII In Luck's Way