CHAPTER XVI.
"Look here," said Hollanden, at length, "I thought you were so wonderfully anxious to learn that stroke ?" "Well, I am," she said.
"Come on, then." As they walked toward the tennis court he seemed to be plunged into mournful thought.

In his eyes was a singular expression, which perhaps denoted the woe of the optimist pushed suddenly from its height.

He sighed.

"Oh, well, I suppose all women, even the best of them, are that way." "What way ?" she said.
"My dear child," he answered, in a benevolent manner, "you have disappointed me, because I have discovered that you resemble the rest of your sex." "Ah!" she remarked, maintaining a noncommittal attitude.
"Yes," continued Hollanden, with a sad but kindly smile, "even you, Grace, were not above fooling with the affections of a poor country swain, until he don't know his ear from the tooth he had pulled two years ago." She laughed.

"He would be furious if he heard you call him a country swain." "Who would ?" said Hollanden.
"Why, the country swain, of course," she rejoined.
Hollanden seemed plunged in mournful reflection again.