“I challenge you,” Amanda called after them, her voice shrill with triumph. “I challenge you right now to a set, Billie Bradley.”
As Billie continued onward to the Hall without even a backward glance, Amanda’s mocking laughter followed her.
“You’re afraid, Billie Bradley. You’re afraid!”
Once inside the door, Billie turned to Vi. Her hands were clenched so hard that the nails bit into the palms.
“Some day,” she promised vengefully, “I’m going to give that girl such a beating on the courts that she’ll cry for mercy. You mark my words, Vi Farrington!”
“She’ll get something worse than a beating on the courts, if you leave it to me, the horrid, spiteful old thing!” declared Vi furiously.
CHAPTER XV
AN UNEXPECTED DUCKING
The trouble with Billie Bradley’s knee did not improve during the days that followed. Although, assisted by her chums and Edina Tooker, she rubbed it faithfully with arnica each night, she still showed far from her old form on the tennis courts.
She was forced to suffer the constant taunts of Amanda Peabody and Eliza Dilks. Instead of making reply, she closed her lips tight and said nothing.