"You'd better come over and have tea. It's almost ready," invited Regina hospitably.
"No, thanks," (Ermie was spokeswoman). "We're going to tea at Cissie's. We only looked in to see how you were getting on. We thought you'd be turtle-doving."
"We're playing tennis."
"So I see. We don't want to butt in. Just came to find the flags flying that's all." (With a grimace at Lesbia.) "We do apologize. Sorry to be on the earth. Or rather on the palings. Can't hold up any longer. Ta-ta!"
Ermie disappeared with a sudden drop, followed by Cissie and Aldora. To judge from the sound of footsteps they ran hurriedly away down the lane. Lesbia looked relieved. She did not want Regina to realize what fun the girls made of her infatuation. She was so deadly in earnest about everything that it seemed a shame to tease her.
"Besides which she might think I had been cackling to them and put them up to coming," thought Lesbia, turning hot at the notion. "I'll spifflicate those three on Monday, when I catch them. It was beastly cheek to track me here just to try and rag. They ought to know better manners, and I shall tell them so. Won't I pitch into them just! I'll make them absolutely shrivel!"
But aloud she simply said very calmly:
"It's your serve, Regina. We were thirty—forty. Do let us try and finish this set before tea if we can."