glanced rapidly round at the wicket, expecting to see her bails fly;
but luck was on her side, for the break had been a little too great,
and the ball just cleared the off stump.

"A good thing Derrick isn't here," said Honor to herself. "I should
never have heard the end of that!"

It was very hard to resist the temptation to hit out, dangerous though
she knew it to be, and it was with a sensation of relief that she saw
the ball travelling off for a single to long field, thus leaving the
rest of the over to Chatty, who, neither so ambitious nor so impatient,
played it out without giving the much-longed-for chance of a catch. By
this time sixty was up on the board, of which Honor had contributed
twenty-eight, to the great satisfaction of all concerned.

But Grace had not played her last card. She had evidently decided on a
double change of bowling; for, when the fielders had crossed, Irene
Richmond was seen at the wicket. Irene's bowling was peculiar; it was
left-handed, which is quite uncommon in a girl, and the more difficult
on that account. The Chaddites looked at one another with smiles that
were less spontaneous.

Certainly Irene might with advantage have been put on before. Her
style, though by no means swift, was most awkward to play. Chatty
received the first ball, which beat her completely, though luckily it
did not touch the wicket. A minute later she made a single, and Honor
felt rather blank, as it was now her turn to face the bowling. One of
Derrick's pet rules, however, came into her mind: "When you're in
doubt, watch each ball carefully, till you get your eye in"; and by
dint of adherence to this, she played out the over with safety.

The slow bowling at the other end, though it looked so simple, was full
of weird pitfalls, into one of which Chatty fell an easy victim. She
played too soon at a short-pitched ball, and spooned a catch to mid-on,
who took good care not to drop it. Chatty retired rather ruefully, but
was consoled by the applause she received from the pavilion, her
twenty-three runs being regarded as a handsome contribution.

Maisie Talbot came in next. Being tall and athletic for her age, she
had a long reach, which she employed successfully in driving the first
ball she received right along the ground into "the country" for three.
This seemed to disconcert the bowler; the next one she sent down was an
easy full pitch. Honor waited till just the right moment, and then,
with a fine swi