“Go and put on your flannels, both of you,” said the captain, “and come back here; I’ll wait for you.”
In trepidation they obeyed and went, while Ponty looked about for a cozy seat on which to stretch himself.
In five minutes they returned and presented themselves. Ponty eyed them both calmly, and then roused himself and began to walk to the fields.
Tennis was in full swing in the Junior corner, where all sorts of play, good, bad and indifferent, was going on at the nets. Ponty, followed by the two bewildered champions, strolled about till he came upon an indifferent set being played by Gosse and Cazenove against Raggles and another boy called Wade.
“Stop the game for a bit, you youngsters,” said the captain. “Which two of you are the best?”
“I think I and Raggles are,” said Gosse, with his usual modesty.
“Oh, then you can sit out. Give your rackets to these two; they’re going to play against Cazenove and Wade.”
Dick’s heart sank within him as he took Gosse’s racket and glanced up at the captain’s face.
“I’m rather out of practice,” faltered he.
“Come, are you ready? I’ll umpire,” said the captain.