"Two games!" exclaimed Dick, as they advanced. "Each party has won one."
"And I am tired," said Ada, languidly.
"Just one more," pleaded Dick; "I know that I shall have better luck."
"I can't," Ada replied.
Rob's first impulse was to say, "I'll take her place"; but he felt that would leave Ada to her own resources again. He did not care anything about Ada's noticing him,—indeed, she rather ignored him when Dick was around; but he had a fancy that Dick was his friend, and did not belong so exclusively to the girls.
"Rob, I'll try you," Mr. Meredith exclaimed, remarking the wistful face.
So Ada and Dick had a ramble about the grounds, as Kathie, feeling she was not very earnestly desired, lingered to watch the players. It was a pretty sharp game, but Robert beat.
"Though I do not think you played your best at the last," the boy said.
Uncle Edward gave a queer little smile that set Rob to musing. What if people sometimes acted a little differently, for the sake of sparing his unlucky temper!