Sinclair seized his opportunity during the tennis tournament. With considerable difficulty he persuaded her to partner him in the mixed doubles. She was reluctant on account of being a weak player; but he overruled her objections, and she gave way. "You'll lose--with me," she warned him. "I'm not good at games ever." "I'll take my chance of that," he replied. "Anyway, I'd rather lose with you than win with any one else." Esme practised untiringly before the event. She had never attended the tournament before other than as a spectator, and the sight of the crowds which gathered each day to view the events shook her nerve. She played badly, and felt rather aggrieved that her partner managed to drag her victoriously through their first set. After their game she sat with him below the stand and reproached him for winning. "It would be all over now if you hadn't cribbed half my balls," she complained. "But you don't want to be out of it really?" he said, surprised. "I do--and I don't. It makes me jumpy." "That's all right. You'll get your tail up later. I'm going to win, you know. I'm going to pull this off." "You've got your work cut out," she said, and laughed. "You'll get very little help from me." "I only ask your co-operation," he returned confidently. "Take what you can, and leave the rest to me. I'm out to win. You see, we are coming through together." She did see. And with each set they played and won her astonishment deepened. She had always known that he was a good player, but she had not realised the reserve force which he could bring into his game when he wanted it. It was something more than play, she decided, which carried him through; it was sheer determination not to be beaten. They came through the finals with a hard-won victory. Jim and Rose were present to watch the finish. According to Jim, his sister-in-law played a footling game. "At least she didn't hamper her partner," Rose said. "Hamper him! No. She might as well have been off the court altogether." "Her service is good," Rose insisted. "Yes--for a girl." He chuckled. "She leaves him to make all the running." "Well, they won anyhow." "_He_ won," he corrected. "Shouldn't be surprised if he didn't win all along the line. He has only a bundle of letters to compete against. My money is on the man on the spot all the time." "Hush!" Rose said warningly. "Here they come." She hailed the winners with smiling congratulations, and complimented Sinclair on his play. "We pulled it off all right, Mrs Bainbridge," he said, laughing, looking hot and young and immeasurably contented with life. "Esme funked right to the finish, but she played up like a good 'un. Whew! I'm hot. Come on, partner; let's go and have a lemon squash."