It was after dinner that evening before Earlington Disbrow turned his footsteps toward the Meadow-Brook camp. He was not highly elated over what he had learned that day, but showed nothing of this in his face or manner when he called on the girls. The boys were still there.
George reported that the girls had had a very satisfactory day’s practice, but that the Tramps had had difficulty in keeping spectators and curious players away from the place. The Tramps had literally thrown a circle about the Meadow-Brook Girls’ court, permitting no one to pass within the circle while practice was in progress.
“Will they play to-morrow?” questioned Dill.
“No. Mr. Herrington does not think it advisable. It will undoubtedly be late in the afternoon before the singles are run off, so he has decided to start the doubles on the following forenoon at ten o’clock.”
“What do you wish on the question of team-mates?” he asked, turning to Miss Elting.
“We have been leaving that to you.”
“Then I will offer my suggestion. I have talked it over with George and he agrees with me. I believe the best results can be obtained by arranging it as follows, Miss Burrell and Miss Thompson to play together, Miss McCarthy and Miss Holland to act as team-mates. Of course, Miss Thompson is not as heavy as I wish she were, but she makes up for that in a measure by her alertness. Have you any objections to the arrangement?”
“Indeed not,” answered the guardian. “You have expressed my own ideas on the question. None of the girls has expressed any preference, but I know they will be satisfied.”
“I for one am,” answered Harriet promptly. The other girls announced themselves as pleased with the arrangement.
“Then we will call it settled. I wish we might be drawn so that you girls could play the weaker teams first.”