Nora was particularly
marked out for future distinction. She had made tremendous strides
lately, and her swift serves were the terror of her opponents. The
hostel felt justly proud of her achievements, and would collect in the
evening, after prep., to watch her play a set of singles with Susie
Wakefield, who, though older and taller, almost invariably lost.

Susie had good points of her own, however, and with Nora as partner
could beat even Blossom and Aline occasionally. No doubt the future
credit of the school was in their hands.

One evening it happened that Nora was in a particularly slashing and
reckless mood, and she sent no less than three balls flying straight
over the wall that bordered the tennis courts. They fell into the
premises of old Dr. Broadfield, whose garden adjoined that of the
school. They were not the first that had done so, indeed so many balls
had gone over lately that the loss was growing serious. At one time the
girls had been wont to ring Dr. Broadfield's front-door bell and beg
permission to pick up their property, but they had been received so
sourly by his elderly housekeeper, that they hardly dared to ask again.

"Three good balls gone in half an hour!" grieved Verity. "There'll soon
be none left at this rate. I believe there must be a dozen at least
lying on the grass over there, only that stingy old thing won't throw
them back. It's really too bad."

"How could we possibly get them?" ruminated Doreen.

"Sham ill, get Dr. Broadfield to attend, and coax them out of him,"
suggested Fil.

Doreen shook her head.

"He's not the school doctor, unfortunately. When Millie sprained her
ankle, Miss Burd sent for Dr. Harrison. We might fish for them with a
butterfly net tied to the end of a drilling pole, if they're anywhere
near enough."

"They're not. I peeped over the wall and they've rolled quite a long way
off."

"How weak! What are we to do?"

"There's nothing for it," said Ingred slowly, "but to make a sally into
the enemy's trenches and fetch them back!"

"Oh! I dare say! But who's going to do the sallying business?"

"_I_ will, if you like."

"_You!_"

"Yes; I don't mind a scrap."

"You heroine!"

"Don't mensh!"

"But suppose you're caught?"

"I shall have to risk that, of course. I'll reconnoiter carefully
first."

The boundary between the College premises and the property of Dr.
Broadfield was part of the old Abbey wall. The mortar had crumbled away
from the s