I suppose he won't strike me with lightning or send me down through the earth if I happen to beat him.
Shall I ?" "Yes, do," replied her hostess, with a suspicion of mischief in her voice; "those dear Professors of ours are puzzling so delightfully over the first miracle, or whatever it was, that I _do_ want to see them worried a little more.

It will be a wholesome chastening for the overweening pride of knowledge." "Very well," laughed Brenda, rising and dropping a light cloak from her shoulders.

"It's the first time I've had the honour of playing against a magician, mind, so you mustn't be too hard on me if I lose." Lord Leighton fetched her racquet and one for Phadrig, and they went together towards the tennis-court in which he was standing.

The three Professors left their places and stood at one end of the net, Messrs Hartley and Van Huysman indulging in audible growls of baffled scepticism, and Franklin Marmion silently observant, divided between interest and amusement.

He could not help imagining what would happen if he were to stand in the middle of the circle and remove himself to the Higher Plane, and then go round shaking hands and saying, "Good afternoon." Brenda acknowledged Phadrig's bow with a gracious nod as she took her place.