lay!
Althea has the ball--no, there it is--Patricia's got it--
That must be Pamela again--no, Catherine has it!
Catherine poised herself and threw.
A soft sighing sound from hundreds of lips marked the safe arrival of
the ball in the basket, and then spontaneous cheering drowned the
umpire's voice.
York Hill had the cup for another year!
* * * * *
The cheering over, the teams departed for afternoon tea, and the
audience, breaking up into little groups, settled down to a discussion
of the points of the game.
"They've certainly a dandy centre, and that fair girl was a great
shot--but wasn't Cathy gorgeous! If we'd only had another two
minutes--one minute--we'd have beaten 'em all hollow."
"Wasn't our team-work simply splendid?" gloated Judith. "I should think
Patricia would be awfully proud. By the way, that reminds me--Patricia
said I must play off in the House Tournament to-morrow afternoon. Come
on over to the tennis court. I'll play you two--I've got a new serve I
want to try. Oh, dear! I wish there weren't any exams this term; I'd
like to play the whole time."
Next day when Judith looked at the tournament lists she was astonished
to find that she was to play against Catherine. Catherine for the last
two years had been South's choice to play in the School Tournament, and
although she had been beaten by Nelly Smith of West last year, it was
pretty generally conceded that she would win in the preliminary House
Tournament and play again in the finals.
"Rather rough on me to have to play against a champion," laughed Judith
as they tossed for counts a little later, "but I'm going to give you a
hard fight, Cathy, see if I don't."
Perhaps it was the spirit of the blue and golden May day, cool enough to
be pleasant, warm enough to be a joy, or the little breeze which came
floating across the campus carrying an intoxicating scent of lilacs, but
whatever the reason, some sprite seemed to have taken possession of
Judith, and she threw herself into the game with such enthusiasm, such
abandon, such elfin-like nimbleness that Catherine couldn't touch her
balls.
There was not a large audience, for cricket and swimming claimed many,
but the crew of the "Jolly Susan" were there, you may be sure, and most
of South House, for it had been whispered about that Judith's game was
worth watching.
"Well played," said Eleanor heartily, as Florence called out the score.
"Game and s
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