tones, leaving large interstices, so it was quite easy to
climb. With a little boosting from Verity and Nora, Ingred successfully
reached the top, and peered over into the neighboring garden. Just below
her was a rockery, which offered not only an easy means of descent, but
a quick mode of egress in the case of the necessity of beating a hasty
retreat.

Beyond the flower-bed, and lying on the lawn, were no less than seven
tennis balls, marked with the unmistakable blue cross that claimed them
for the College. The sight was enough to spur on the faintest heart.
Apparently there was nobody in this part of the garden, and no watchful
face peered from any of the windows. It was certainly an opportunity
that ought not to be missed. Ingred slipped first one foot and then the
other over the wall, and dropped on to the rockery. It was the work of a
minute to pick up the balls and throw them back to rejoicing friends. If
she herself had followed immediately there would have been no sequel to
the episode. But happening to look under the bushes, she noticed another
ball, and went in quest of it. It seemed a shame to return until she had
found any that might have strayed farther afield, so she dived under the
rhododendron bushes, and was rewarded with two more balls. She had
issued out on to another part of the lawn, and was on the very point of
retreating, when she suddenly heard voices on the path between the
bushes. To run to the wall would be to cross open country, so, with an
instinctive desire to seek cover, she dived into a summer-house close
by, and shut the door. The footsteps came nearer. Were they going to
follow her into her retreat, and catch her? It would be too ignominious!
Peeping warily through a small window of the summer-house, she saw two
young people, apparently much interested in each other, strolling
leisurely up. To her immense relief they did not attempt to enter, but
sat down on a seat outside the window. They were so near that she could
perforce hear every word, and was an unwilling but compulsory
eavesdropper.

At first the conversation consisted mostly of tender nothings: "He"
certainly called her "Darling!"; "She" replied: "Oh, Donald, don't!" and
a sound followed so suspiciously like a kiss that Ingred, only a few
feet away from them, almost giggled aloud. She wondered how long they
were going to keep her a prisoner. It might be very pleasant for
themselves to sit "spooning" in the garden on a mild M