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Stillwell's face burned a furious red at the little laugh that went
round among Captain Jack's friends。
〃Frankly; I have had enough for to…day;〃 said the Englishman to
Jack。
〃All right; old chap; if you don't really mind。 Though I feel you
would certainly take the odd set。〃
〃Not a bit of it; by Jove。 I am quite satisfied to let it go at
that。 We will have another go some time。〃
〃Any time that suits youto…morrow; eh?〃
〃To…morrow be it;〃 said the Englishman。
〃Now; then; Stillwell;〃 said Captain Jack; with a curt nod at him。
〃Whenever you are ready。〃
〃Oh; come; Maitland。 I was only joshing; you know。 You don't want
to play with me to…day;〃 said Stillwell; not relishing the look on
Maitland's face。 〃We can have a set any time。〃
〃No!〃 said Maitland shortly。 〃It's now or never。〃
〃Oh; all right;〃 said Stillwell; with an uneasy laugh; going into
the Club house for his racquet。
The proposed match had brought a new atmosphere into the Club
house; an atmosphere of contest with all the fun left out。
〃I don't like this at all;〃 said a man with iron grey hair and
deeply tanned face。
〃One can't well object; Russell;〃 said a younger man; evidently a
friend of Stillwell's。 〃Maitland brought it on; and I hope he gets
mighty well trimmed。 He is altogether too high and mighty these
days。〃
〃Oh; I don't agree with you at all;〃 broke in Frances; in a voice
coldly proper。 〃You heard what Mr。 Stillwell said?〃
〃Well; not exactly。〃
〃Ah; I might have guessed you had not;〃 answered the young lady;
turning away。
Edwards looked foolishly round upon the circle of men who stood
grinning at him。
〃Now will you be good?〃 said a youngster who had led the laugh at
Edwards' expense。
〃What the devil are you laughing at; Menzies?〃 he asked hotly。
〃Why; don't you see the joke?〃 enquired Menzies innocently。 〃Well;
carry on! You will to…morrow。〃
Edwards growled out an oath and took himself off。
Meantime the match was making furious progress; with the fury; it
must be confessed; confined to one side only of the net。 Captain
Jack was playing a driving; ruthless game; snatching and employing
without mercy every advantage that he could legitimately claim。 He
delivered his service with deadly precision; following up at the
net with a smashing return; which left his opponent helpless。 His
aggressive tactics gave his opponent almost no opportunity to
score; and he kept the pace going at the height of his speed。 The
onlookers were divided in their sentiments。 Stillwell had a strong
following of his own who expressed their feelings by their silence
at Jack's brilliant strokes and their loud approval of Stillwell's
good work when he gave them opportunity; while many of Maitland's
friends deprecated his tactics and more especially his spirit。
At whirlwind pace Captain Jack made the first three games a 〃love〃
score; leaving his opponent dazed; bewildered with his smashing
play and blind with rage at his contemptuous bearing。
〃I think I must go home; Frances;〃 said Adrien to her friend; her
face pale; her head carried high。
Frances seized her by the arm and drew her to one side。
〃Adrien; you must not go! You simply must not!〃 she said in a low
tense voice。 〃It will be misunderstood; and〃
〃I am going; Frances;〃 said her friend in a cold; clear voice。 〃I
have had enough tennis for this afternoon。 Where is Sidney? Ah;
there he is across the court。 No! Let me go; Frances!〃
〃You simply must not go like that in the middle of a game; Adrien。
Wait at least till this game is over;〃 said her friend; clutching
hard at her arm。
〃Very well。 Let us go to Sidney;〃 said Adrien。
Together they made their way round the court almost wholly
unobserved; so intent was the crowd upon the struggle going on
before them。 As the game finished Adrien laid her hand upon her
cousin's arm。
〃Haven't you had enough of this?〃 she said。 Her voice carried
clear across the court。
〃What d'ye say? By Jove; no!〃 said her cousin in a joyous voice。
〃This is the most cheering thing I've seen for many moons; Adrien。
Eh; what? Oh; I beg pardon; are you seedy?〃 he added glancing at
her。 〃Oh; certainly; I'll come at once。〃
〃Not at all。 Don't think of it。 I have a call to make on my way
home。 Please don't come。〃
〃But; Adrien; I say; this will be over now in a few minutes。 Can't
you really wait?〃
〃No; I am not in the least interested in thisthis kind of
tennis;〃 she said in a bored voice。
Her tone; pitched rather higher than usual; carried to the ears of
the players who were changing ends at the moment。 Both of the men
glanced at her。 Stillwell's face showed swift gratitude。 On
Jack's face the shadow darkened but except for a slight
straightening of the line of his lips he gave no sign。
〃You are quite sure you don't care?〃 said Sidney。 〃You don't want
me? This really is great; you know。〃
〃Not for worlds would I drag you away;〃 said Adrien in a cool;
clear voice。 〃Frances will keep you company。〃 She turned to her
friend。 〃Look after him; Frances;〃 she said。 〃Good…bye。 Dinner
at seven to…night; you know。〃
〃Right…o!〃 said Sidney; raising his hat in farewell。 〃By Jove; I
wouldn't miss this for millions;〃 he continued; making room for
Frances beside him。 〃Your young friend is really somewhat violent
in his style; eh; what?〃
〃There are times when violence is the only possible thing;〃 replied
Frances grimly。
〃By the way; who is the victim? I mean; what is he exactly?〃
〃Mr。 Stillwell? Oh; he is the son of his father; the biggest
merchant in Blackwater。 Oh; lovely! Beautiful return! Jack is
simply away above his form! And something of a merchant and
financier on his own account; to be quite fair。 Making money fast
and using it wisely。 But I'm not going to talk about him。 You see
a lot of him about the Rectory; don't you?〃
〃Well; something;〃 replied Sidney。 〃I can't quite understand the
situation; I confess。 To be quite frank; I don't cotton much to
him。 A bit sweetish; eh; what?〃
〃Yes; at the Rectory doubtless。 I would hardly attribute to him a
sweet disposition。 Oh; quit talking about him。 He had flat feet
in the war; I think it was。 Jack's twin brother was killed; you
knowand minewell; you know how mine is。〃
A swift vision of a bright…faced; cheery…voiced soldier; feeling
his way around a darkened room in the Amory home; leaped to
Sidney's mind and overwhelmed him with pity and self…reproach。
〃Dear Miss Frances; will you forgive me? I hadn't quite got on to
the thing。 I understand the game better now。〃
〃Now; I don't want to poison your mind。 I shouldn't have said
thatabout the flat feet; I mean。 He goes to the Rectory; you
know。 I want to be fair〃
〃Please don't worry。 We know all about that sort at home;〃 said
Sidney; touching her hand for a moment。 〃My word; that was a hot
one! The flat…footed Johnnie is obviously bewildered。 The last
game was sheer massacre; eh; what?〃
If Maitland was not in form there was no sign of it in his work on
the court。 There was little of courtesy; less of fun and nothing
at all of mercy in his play。 From first to last a