And on these courts a very gay company of young people in white were playing or applauding the players while the snowy balls flew across the nets and the resonant blows of the bats rang out.
And first Mr.Cardross presented Hamil to his handsome married daughter, Mrs.Acton Carrick, a jolly, freckled, young matron who showed her teeth when she smiled and shook hands like her father; and then he was made known to the youngest daughter, Cecile Cardross, small, plump, and sun-tanned, with ruddy hair and mischief in every feature.
There was, also, a willowy Miss Staines and a blond Miss Anan, and a very young Mr.Anan--a brother--and a grave and gaunt Mr.Gatewood and a stout Mr.Ellison, and a number of others less easy to remember.
"This wholesale introduction business is always perplexing," observed Cardross; "but they'll all remember you, and after a time you'll begin to distinguish them from the shrubbery.

No"-- as Mrs.Carrick asked Hamil if he cared to play--"he would rather look on this time, Jessie.

Go ahead; we are not interrupting you; where is Shiela--" And Hamil, chancing to turn, saw her, tennis-bat tucked under one bare arm, emerging from the jungle path; and at the same instant she caught sight of him.

Both little chalked shoes stood stockstill--for a second only--then she came forward, leisurely, continuing to eat the ripe guava with which she had been occupied.
Cardross, advancing, said: "This is Mr.Hamil, dearest; and," to the young man: "My daughter Shiela." She nodded politely.
"Now I've got to go, Shiela," continued Cardross.

"Hamil, you'll amuse yourself, won't you, until I return after luncheon?
Shiela, Mr.Hamil doesn't care to play tennis; so if you'll find out what he does care to do--" He saluted the young people gaily and started across the lawn where a very black boy with a chair stood ready to convey him to the village and across the railroad tracks to that demure little flower-embowered cottage the interior of which presents such an amazing contrast to the exterior..