he credit
of Rodenhurst trembled in the balance, but by frantic efforts on her
part and Olga's, the set was secured, and the twins conquered.

"You're getting on splendidly!" said Bessie Manners at lunchtime,
plying the so-far victorious pair with ham sandwiches and lemonade.
"Everybody says Rodenhurst is looking up. I feel so proud of you!"

"Too soon to rejoice! We haven't tackled Miss Crawford's girls yet,
and then there'd be Radcaster," replied Gwen.

"It makes one wildly hungry!" declared Olga.

"You mustn't have more than four sandwiches and a bun, or it'll spoil
your play," interposed Bessie, who considered herself in the light of
a trainer for her special champions, and enforced her rules with
Spartan severity.

Olga sighed humorously, but obeyed.

"There was a rumour that Ravensfield lost the shield one year on
buns," she remarked. "I don't wish a like fate to befall Rodenhurst."

It was immensely encouraging to hear that their play had attracted
notice; they felt braced up for the next contest, and went back to the
fray in quite good spirits.

"One wants to strike the happy medium between faint heart and over
confidence," said Olga.

"I prefer to strike the ball!" laughed Gwen.

There was no doubt that Rodenhurst was this year increasing its
reputation by leaps and bounds. Instead of falling out among the early
sets it had kept steadily on, and spectators began to speak of it as
likely to carry off the prize. Radcaster had also done excellently, so
when it came to a final struggle between those two rivals, the
excitement of their respective adherents knew no bounds. The
Rodenhurst girls could hardly keep still, and each held a handkerchief
ready to wave in case of victory. That it would be a tremendous
battle Gwen and Olga knew only too well. The Radcaster champions were
the same girls who had won the tournament the year before, and many
people deemed them invincible. They seemed inclined to hold that
opinion themselves, for they glanced at their opponents with a rather
superior and almost pitying smile. That look put Gwen on her mettle.
"They shan't have it this time!" she murmured grimly as she took her
place. Whether Gwen really excelled herself, or whether the Radcaster
girls were a little tired or too secure of victory was a debatable
point, but at the end of a splendidly played set Rodenhurst stood as
the winner. The two successful champions turned to each other almost
incredulously. The shi