Ruth sat in the front of the box, waiting for her name to be called for her tennis match. She was one of the most popular visitors in Newport; nearly everyone who passed her box stopped to wish good luck to her and to Hugh.
“I have seen a good many sights, in my day,” said Miss Sallie, gazing around through her lorgnette, “but never one more beautiful than this.”
The grass of the wide lawns was so perfectly trimmed that it looked like a carpet of moss. Over the green there swept a crowd of laughing, happy people, the women in frocks of every delicate color. Even the sober note that men’s clothes generally make in a gay throng was missing to-day, for the boys, young and old, wore white flannels and light shirts that rivaled the dresses of the girls in the brightness of their hues.
Tier upon tier of seats rose up around the tennis courts; before the first game was called every one was filled.
“Give me my smelling salts, Grace,” said Miss Sallie, when Ruth and Hugh were called out to commence their game. “I shall not look at them until the set is over.”
“O Miss Sallie!” declared Ralph, who had quietly slipped into Ruth’s place next Barbara. “I am ashamed of you for not having more courage. I am certain they will win. We shall have two silver cups in this box in the next hour or so.”
Over the heads of the great crowd Barbara could see the Countess Bertouche. She was standing near Mr. and Mrs. Erwin’s box, in which sat Governor and Mrs. Post, Gladys and Harry Townsend.
For the first time in her acquaintance with them, Barbara saw Harry Townsend leave his seat and walk across the lawn with the countess. Evidently she had made some request of him. Not far off Barbara could also see a tall, blond man, with a curly, light mustache, who followed the pair with his eyes and then moved nonchalantly in their direction.
But Harry Townsend was back with his friends in a minute. He had only taken the countess to her place, so that she need not be alone in the crowd.
Ruth and Hugh were easy winners. They had no such tennis battle as they fought the day they earned the right to represent their crowd over the heads of Ralph and Barbara.