Kate tossed the ball and with the weight of her body behind the stroke, sent a smashing service into the far left-hand corner of the court.
Running swiftly, Nan was there before the ball, and, with a lightning stroke slashed it over the net and almost at Kate's feet. Kate, dancing nimbly backward, struck at the ball, but not quite quickly enough. It fell into the net, and a triumphant cry came from Nan's supporters.
"Love fifteen!"
Kate's face burned a dull red. She would not look at Nan as she retrieved the ball.
From that on action was swift and furious.
Nan served and Kate smashed the ball back over the net to be met by a clever backhand stroke from Nan that sent Kate scurrying toward her base line. On her toes Kate reached for the ball and got it. Her smashing return caught Nan off guard. Her racket twanged with the impact of the ball, but the shot was low.
"Fifteen all," said Kate, and treated her adversary to a glance of triumph.
The sun was worrying Nan. She wished that she had brought her eyeshade.
Jo saw the swift motion of hand across sun-dazzled eyes and was on her feet in an instant.
"I'm going up to the room for something," she explained to Sadie.