The ball, hard as it had been driven, stopped in mid-air over the net, hung there for a moment, then dropped on Brenda's side and rolled to her feet again.

She picked it up, walked to the net with it in her hand, and said quite good-humouredly: "I think you're a bit too smart for me, Mr Phadrig.

I can't pretend to play against a gentleman who can suspend the law of gravitation just to win a game of tennis." "I did not do it to win the game, Miss van Huysman," he replied with a gentle smile; "I only desired to amuse you and the other guests of Professor Marmion.

Now, it may be that some excellent but ignorant people here may think that that ball is bewitched, as they would call it, so if you will give it to me, I will send it out of reach." She handed him the ball, wondering what was going to happen next.

He took it and put it on the thumb of his right hand as one does with a coin when tossing.