“I can’t see how you can hope even to get a place in the tournament. Tennis is a game of skill requiring years to make one proficient, and how you can expect to get into shape to play in a tournament five weeks hence is beyond me.”
Harriet laughed lightly.
“I am glad to hear you offer objections. That is exactly what I need to stir me up. That no one else could hope to accomplish this thing is the very reason why I have decided to attempt it. And I, for one, am going to win,” she added reflectively.
“I actually believe you think you will,” exclaimed the guardian.
“Of course I do. Otherwise I should not try.”
Miss Elting regarded Harriet thoughtfully for some time, then sighed and gave it up. Of course, the subject was discussed among the girls all the rest of the evening, Harriet most of the time remaining in the background and listening to the remarks of the guardian and her own companions. The general trend of the conversation was that the Meadow-Brook Girls stood not even a ghost of a chance to win anything in the tournament. They would be fortunate if, after the first set, they were not barred from further participation. Harriet had already expressed her opinion and from that time on her whole thought would be to play to win. If she failed, it would be through no lack of belief in herself, no lack of effort on her part to perfect herself. She determined to turn her face to the front and never once look back. That was what she did on the following morning.
The boys came trooping in at an early hour, but early as they were, the girls were ready for them, with the morning work all cleared away and Harriet and Hazel at work at the net industriously tossing the ball back and forth.
“That’s the idea,” declared George glowingly. “I told the boys we should find you at work.”
“Oh, good morning, boys,” greeted Harriet. “How is your poor nose this morning, Sam!”
“It is all there still, but I can’t smell with it yet. Why, do you know my breakfast was spoiled for me because I couldn’t get the odor of the bacon and coffee. I wish some one would tell me how to smell through my mouth.”