axen hair and short-cut
skirts, hovered about putting in any remarks that anybody would listen
to. They each had an eye to taking Lesbia's disengaged left arm, but
Regina, who had appropriated the other, frowned them fiercely away.
Piers and Winston, the four-year-old twins, were exhibited proudly,
somewhat in the fashion of domestic pets, and, when they had performed
what Derrick called "their parlour tricks", were dismissed to play in a
separate portion of the garden, and bribed with chocolates not to
return.

There was a tennis lawn, a very nice one too, full-sized, and level, and
thoroughly well rolled and free from daisies or dandelion roots. Lesbia
looked at it so longingly that Regina, still anxious for an afternoon of
private confidences, had perforce to offer a game, though her face grew
a little glum when her guest promptly accepted.

"You'd better fetch John Curzon," she nodded to Derrick.

Derrick, without a word, and somewhat to Lesbia's amazement, departed
over the wall, but he returned shortly accompanied by a boy friend who
bore a tennis-racket.

There was a brief scrimmage about sides, Regina wanting Lesbia for a
partner, and Derrick indignantly protesting against two girls playing
together. He carried his point, and conducted the visitor to what he
considered the more advantageous quarter of the court, leaving John and
his sister to have the sun in their eyes. Magsie and Una constituted
themselves umpires, and called out the score with keen satisfaction. The
Websters were fairly good players, and Lesbia enjoyed herself,
especially as she and Derrick were winning all along the line. In the
middle of the second game she began to be aware of spectators. There was
a paling between the side of the garden and a lane, and over the top of
these wooden boards faces that seemed somehow familiar would peep for a
moment and then vanish. It was only after several of these sudden
bobbing appearances that her eyes recognized the well-known features of
Ermie, Cissie, and Aldora. At the first convenient opportunity she
pointed them out to her hostess.

"Hello, you girls! Show yourselves properly," yodelled Regina, running
to the palings.

Audible giggles came from the lane, then sounds of hoisting, finally
three smiling faces peered across the fence.

"You'd better come over and have tea. It's almost ready," invited Regina
hospitably.

"No, thanks," (Ermie was spokeswoman). "We're going to tea at Cissie's.
W