I see your plan worked grandly." Elated by her success and the feeling of good-comradeship which this little secret with Rob gave her, Mary skipped up on to the porch, well pleased with herself.

But the next instant there was a curious change in her feeling.

Lloyd, tall and graceful in her becoming tennis suit, was standing on the steps taking leave of some of the players.

With hospitable insistence she was urging them to stay to lunch, and there was something in the sweet graciousness of the young hostess that made Mary uncomfortable.

She felt that she had been weighed in the balance and found wanting.