"But tennis is only an amusement."
"It takes a lot of time. Dear me, I can't live by rote and rule, Issy. I can't do it. I'm not you or Emmeline,—don't want to be either," Dolly added voicelessly. "And we're almost in October now, and this is our very last spell of anything like summer weather. Most likely I shan't get any tennis after this week."
"Where do you play to-day? I forget."
"At the Park." A quick blush dyed Dolly's cheek, and she turned her head away, playing with the window-curtain. "I've promised to be there at half-past three, and it's past two now."
"Time enough for a little darning first. You are not going to waste a whole hour in doing nothing?"
"Reading isn't doing nothing. Not that I was reading really," added Dolly, who was truthful, at all events. "Issy, how you do plague!" Then she jumped up, and flung her arms round the elder sister. "Dear good Issy, do be kind this once. I can't darn just now,—I really really can't. I'm too excited. Please do be kind."
"What are you so excited about?" asked Isabel, smoothing down a stray wisp of the fair hair.
"O,—why,—going to the Park—" And again there was a tell-tale blush.
"I didn't know you were so devoted to Emmeline."
"Dear old Em! Of course I like her—immensely. She's a personification of all the virtues."