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.