"Once more Jasper rushed up to the crease, and the spectators held their breath."
"I'm going to be a spectator," I said, "with a breath-holding part. Sorry—go on, Blair."
"Then Millicent's bat flashed, and, behold! the ball was on the boundary! A torrent of cheers rent the air. Again he bowled, again the bat flashed. Jasper ground his teeth."
"The curtain goes down here to represent the passing of an hour. When it rises again, Millicent's score is four hundred and twenty-three. There was dead silence for a moment. Then Millicent swung her bat. And at that the cheers broke out, such cheering as had never been heard before. Maclaren's record score was beaten at last! 'Now surely he will knock his wickets down,' said the spectators. Little did they know that until four hundred and fifty was upon the tins the mortgage could not be paid off! Four hundred and thirty—four hundred and forty—four hundred and forty-nine—a sharply run single—four hundred and fifty! From the pavilion Rupert heard the cheers and fainted again."
"It was 'over,' and Millicent had the bowling. Jasper delivered the ball, a fast half-volley——"
("Oh, Simpson simply must play Jasper.")
"—and Millicent drove it back hard and true. Jasper tried to duck, but it was too late. He was dead."
"Act IV. All his money went to Rupert, who was a distant cousin. He married Millicent, and they lived happily ever after. But, though they are always to be seen at the Tonbridge and Canterbury weeks, they have never played cricket again. Curtain."
"And bedtime," said Myra suddenly. "Good-night, everybody."