As though in answer to Edina’s thoughts, someone beside her said:
“Isn’t it awful! She just let that horrible girl pester her into playing. Now she will cripple herself, most likely, for the big match.”
“Even, two all, with this game thirty love in Billie’s favor. It’s been a lovely game to watch, but Billie is nearly all in. See how she limps!”
“It’s an outrage!” cried Edina. “Why doesn’t someone stop her?”
“Try to do it!” said the girl at her side, who had turned out to be Nellie Bane.
“All right,” said Edina, her lips compressed. “I’ll not only try. I’ll _do_ it! Watch me!”
As she started off toward the court, Nellie tried to hold her back; but Edina was not to be held. She paused on the edge of the court.
“Billie,” bawled Edina in a tone not to be ignored. “Come here, please! I’ve got to see you right away!”
Startled, Billie faltered, fouled a perfectly good ball into the net and turned impatiently.
“Billie, I’ve got to see you right away!” Edina’s tone was urgent, imperative. It was as though her very life depended upon Billie’s acquiescence. “You can finish the set some other time.”
Billie shouldered her racket and waved to Amanda.
“I don’t know what’s wanted, but it seems to be important.”
“I get the set then by default,” called Amanda.
Nellie Bane, who had been watching the by-play with great interest, heaved a sigh when she saw Billie and Edina leave the courts and walk off in the direction of the Hall.
“That girl, Edina Tooker, knows what she wants when she wants it,” mused Nellie. “My, won’t Billie be mad when she finds it’s all a hoax!”
Billie was mad. She regarded Edina with such frigid curiosity that it is a miracle that girl did not turn into an icicle at once.
“You mean to say you dragged me off the courts when I was winning--when I was _winning_--just for a whim or because it amuses you to get me in bad with that horrid Amanda Peabody?”
“No, Billie,” pleaded poor Edina. She was feeling the full weight of Billie’s wrath for the first time and it made her miserable. “It wasn’t for fun. I could see you were limping and I knew--well, I knew you shouldn’t be playin’ with Amanda Peabody just now and----”
“It seems to me I should be the best judge of that,” said Billie frigidly.