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 this--this 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