“I hope,” he muttered, “I don’t run into those silly twins.” And then in the next instant he found himself hoping he would. Somehow he felt a desire to unbosom himself to someone sympathetic, and girls, even if they did hold strange views on a good many subjects, were sympathetic. So when he reached the gate he looked through, and there on the croquet lawn which he had traversed the other day were the objects of his thoughts. They didn’t see him and he stood for a moment and looked and listened.
“I’m very sure, just as sure as I can be, that you haven’t been through the middle wicket,” declared one of the twins――he hadn’t the faintest idea at that distance which twin she was!
“And I’m perfectly certain I have been,” declared the other with equal firmness. “I came across there after I sent you into the geranium bed and got in position for the side wicket――――”
“And I came over here on my next shot. And then you went through the side wicket and your next shot took you over there――――”
“You didn’t, because I hit you and took my two shots――――”
“But you left me in position and I went through!”
“Oh, I do wish there was someone here to settle it! I’m just as sure as sure that I’m right!”
“And so am I! I suppose we’ll just have to begin over again.” Rodney could hear at the gate the sigh accompanying this. “This makes three times that it’s happened. We never will get a game finished!”
“Because you always forget what wicket you’re for.”
“We-ell, come on, then. It’s your first again.” One of the twins sent her ball toward the further stake.
“Tell you what you do,” said Rodney. “Get a couple of clothespins, tie different colored ribbons on them and then, when you go through a wicket, stick your clothespin on it.” He was enjoying the looks of surprise on the faces of the twins. “It’s a good scheme, really.”
“It’s――now whatever did he say his name was?” exclaimed one of the girls.
“I forget. I remember we said it was an unusual name, though,” was the reply. The two viewed each other doubtfully.
“It’s Rodney,” laughed that youth. “May I come in?”
“Of course. We are trying to remember your name. That’s why we didn’t invite you in. How do you do?”
“Fine.” Then he remembered his tribulations of a few minutes ago and added, “That is, pretty fair.” He closed the gate behind him and joined the twins, who had started down the path to meet him. “You must be hard up for something to do,” he said with a superior air, “if you have to play croquet!”