They were not to play any more until after they had returned from the singles that were to be run off on this, the first day of the tournament. Mr. Disbrow they would not see again until they had reached the tournament grounds, but George and at least one of his companions were coming over to accompany Miss Elting and the girls to the tournament. The girls were looking forward to the arrival of their own parents, all except Harriet Burrell, who thought her father and mother would not be present. In a way she was glad of it, though she knew she should miss them, that she would give almost anything were they able to see her play and enjoy the proud distinction which she hoped and believed would come to her and her companions. But she was wise enough to keep nothing on her mind from that time until the end of the games, save the games themselves.
They repaired to the tennis grounds about an hour before the calling of the games. None of the girls shared the comforts of the grand stand. They preferred to be on the ground, where they could stroll about, where they could be close enough to watch and learn. That they did learn a great deal that day they admitted later on, for there were some excellent sets played in the singles. During the morning Mr. Disbrow came to them with a copy of the “draw” which had been made that morning, showing the assignments of the teams for the preliminary games in the doubles. The Meadow-Brook Girls perused the list eagerly.
“Oh, listen to this! Jane and Hazel play the Riversides first,” cried Harriet excitedly; “and, Tommy, you and I are listed to play our first match against the Fifth Avenues. That is what will happen if both these teams win in their preliminary matches, which, of course, they are bound to do. I don’t like to have to sit and wait until those preliminaries are over, but some one must do it, I suppose. Some one always has to suffer for another person’s gain.”
“I am well pleased that both of you do not have to meet the top-notchers the first thing,” said Mr. Disbrow. “The meeting with a team nearer your own class will give you a chance to get a notch or two higher than you might otherwise attain. Miss Burrell and Miss Thompson will have an added disadvantage. They must try to profit by your experience.”
“Mr. Dithbrow, may I thay thomething perthonal?” asked Tommy sweetly.
“Yes, certainly.”
“Then I will thay it. You are a regular calamity howler. I thaid you were one of thothe perthonth who had to be thhown. Wait until to-morrow and we’ll thhow you.”
The Englishman doffed his hat politely.
“I think you are right, but perhaps I have had a motive in saying those things that you call ‘calamity howling.’ However, I shall explain what I mean after the games to-morrow. Watch this set; it is going to be a good one.”
“Are either of the top-notchers whom we are to meet playing in the singles?” whispered Harriet.