“The one who serves the ball is called ‘the server,’ his opponent ‘the striker-out.’ In the first play, as I think I have already told you, the ball must hit the ground before being returned. The latter stroke is called a ‘ground stroke.’ There are some other fancy strokes that I have seen, but can’t explain to you. I’ll have some one who knows more about the game than I do tell you about these later on.”
“I don’t believe we quite understand how the scoring is done,” said Harriet.
“That is easily explained. In the first place, four points make a game unless the score is tied at three points each, when two points in succession must be secured to win the game.”
“But how are they scored?” interjected Jane.
“I’m trying to tell you,” answered George. “They are scored as follows: ‘love,’ or no points; fifteen, or one point; thirty, or two points; forty, or three points; game, or four points. Love-all, fifteen-all, thirty-all are called when the score is even, each side having nothing or one or two points, as the case may be. At forty-all the score is called ‘deuce,’ each side having three points, and as either side secures the next point it becomes ‘vantage-in’ or ‘vantage-out’ according to whether server or striker has the advantage.”
“My grathiouth! you make my head thwim,” murmured Tommy.
“Then the score hovers between vantage and deuce until one side secures two points in succession,” explained Miss Elting.
“Yes,” agreed George, nodding. “And six games won by either side constitute a set unless the score is tied at five-all, when deuce-and-advantage games are generally played, the score going on up to six, seven, eight-all and so forth until one side gets two successive games.”
“Isn’t it awful?” wailed Margery. “I never, never can get all of that into my head.”
“That ith becauthe you are fat,” retorted Tommy. “You know a lot, don’t you, George?”