The prison clock tolled the hour over the roofs of the house, and Mrs. Rotherwas gave the definite signal for refreshments.
"You're exhausted," she said teasingly to Harry.
"You'll see," said Harry.
"No," Mrs. Rotherwas delightfully relented. "You're a dear, and I love to watch you play. I'm sure you could give Mr. Truscott half fifteen."
"Think so?" said Harry, pleased, and very conscious that he was living fully.
"You see what it is to have an object in life, Hesketh," Edwin remarked suddenly.
Harry glanced at him doubtfully, and yet with a certain ingenuous admiration. At the same time a white ball rolled near the tree. He ducked under the trailing branches, returned the ball, and moved slowly towards the court.
"Alicia tells me you're very old friends of theirs," said Mrs. Rotherwas, agreeably, to Hilda.
Hilda smiled quietly.
"Yes, we are, both of us."