GAME AND SET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11856, 7 January 1902, Page 3

GAME AND SET.

" I always know what to order at the library after reading Punch," she said, still bent on keeping the conversation away from anything more directly personal. " Oh, you know I never read; besides, I want to talk about something infinitely more interesting than any. book could ever be." " Such as ?' ■ .. , "Yourself." And he looked straight) at her with a challenge in his'eyes. " Ourselves, perhaps, would be a better term," she corrected. ' "As you will. But, seriously, I want an answer to a certain question, and definitely, if you please." She arranged her skirts with'deliberate slowness about her feet, and seemed anxious as to the hang of her dress. After an interval, she said, looking straight in front of her: "If I say 'Yes,' I mean it ; but if I say ' No' —well, I don't know that I shall." " No, I think you had better not." " Don't make fun of me. What I mean to say is, if I say ' Yes' I shall be in earnest, if I say ' No' I may not be in earnest. Do you understand ?" " Say ' Yes,' and save further trouble. You may as well." " I cannot make up my mind." "Shall I make it up for you "No, thank you." •" Toss up—heads or tails ?" "Don't be flippant. This is a -serious question." "I agreevery.'' • Just then they were interrupted by a newcomer, who, shaking an open bag in front of them, said, gaily: . "Been looking for you two everywhere. You must draw for your table and opponents." Each drew a slip of paper from the bag. "Maskelyne and —— " read out the girl. • "Hang it all," he muttered to ■himself, and aloud, "I'm 'Stores.! I suppose while you have to look for Cook I shall have to hunt up- ' Harrod's.'' ~ Meanwhile, cannot we settle the momentous question '!" " What question?'.'. " You know well enough." " The very thing. If you win your set, it's ' Yes ;' if I do; it's ' No.' " "Who is flippant now.,? All the same, agreed. But what happens if we both win or we both lose ?" " We shall be where we were, that's all." He had to agree, and they went off to look for their opponents. She soon found hers, but he was not so.fortunate, and had to wait until one of the tables was free. He stood and watched the girl play, lazily an observer might have thought, in reality all eagerness and anxiety. She carried • all before her, and her eyes flashed with excitement. . "If she wins and I don't it means ' No,'" he said ruefully to himself, " and if we both win we shall be where we were. I generally do beat my opponent. I didn't the other night, but then my thoughts wandered. It was her fault, she would chatter with that silly ass from South Africa. I wonder if her thoughts ever wander. I've a great mind to try and make them. By Jove, I will." Whereupon be crossed over to another table and stood near a rather pretty - girl, and at once began to field balls assiduously for her. His movements were not unnoticed in the quarter where he wished they should be noticed. One can look about and see things, even when engaged in . playing a ping-pong set. " .'" The pretty girl smiled as the Man banded her a ball. 'He made a remark. / The pretty girl replied in her flirtiest-' manner before she served to her opponent. Meanwhile the other girl watched them even as she played. She had always been jealous of the pretty girl to a certain extent, and as she watched them her play suffered. Fiveall." And it had been five—two. The Girl had led. She pulled herself together. This would never do, and yet did she want to win the set ? Did the Man think she was in earnest when ; she proposed this way of settling the; question he had asked her ? Perhaps lie did. He' was sue!* a stupid creatins' in some waysa dear stupid creature, she mentally corrected herself. "Are you ready ?". said her opponent. She missed the ball. " Fifteen—love." " Fifteen—all." " Ping-pong, ping-pong, ping-pong," back and forwards, and she missed another point. - "If I lose, he may lose too, and that will mean nothing. But he won't lose if he can help it. What a lot he has to say to that tiresome ": •black-eyed ': girl. * Perhaps he would rather I did beat my opponent. Then I won't." So far to herself, and then she made a false stroke. ; " Thirty—all." ■; " Forty—thirty." She was demoralised. Her opponent thought she was tired. " Game —and set." v "What luck?" demanded the Man later. "Oh, I was beaten." " Were you ? Well, I am going to win my set." And he did.