When Joy realized that she would be unable to play in the tournament,which was the formal closing of the tennis season at High Cliffs, sheresolved to teach Muriel the trick which her brother had taught her whichwould send a ball over the net with a smash and kill it before itbounced. The island girl knew the rules of the game, it would seem, andhow light she was on her feet and how swift! If she could master thattrick in one week, there still might be hope of winning. Muriel wassitting at her desk studying spelling early the next morning when therecame a tap on her door. She thought it was the maid of that corridor andcalled, "Come in." But when she saw the blue and gold apparition standingin the open doorway she sprang to her feet and held out both hands. "Oh,Joy!" she exclaimed. "It is good of you to come to see me. Do you thinkyou're strong enough to be walkin' that far?"
The visitor sank down in the big, comfortably upholstered wicker chairnear the hearth, where a bed of coals glowed. "I feel all right thismorning," she said, "but after yesterday's experience I am convinced thatI am not strong enough as yet to play in the tournament; and, Muriel, ifyou will promise not to share the knowledge without my permission, I willteach you the trick that my brother taught me."
Muriel's hazel eyes were wide. "But, Joy," she ejaculated, "why is it meyou would be teachin' when Faith, Catherine and Gladys all play so muchbetter?"
Joy smiled as she replied: "I have two excellent reasons. One is that theother girls are busy with their classes nearly all of each day, while youand I are not. As yet I have not started the regular work. And so you andI could go down to the court at an hour when it would be unoccupied. Myother reason is that you are the only one on our side who can run as doesour rival, Marianne Carnot."
Muriel flushed with pleasure. "I'd be that pleased if I could help winthe game," she said. "I'll gladly try, though I'm not expectin' to beable to learn the trick."
"Try is all that any of us can do in this world, it would seem," Joy saidas she arose. "I see that you are studying, and I, too, must get at myFrench. Madame Van de Heuton is helping me keep up with the class, asMother plans a visit to the continent next summer if I am strong enough."Joy hesitated, then continued: "Muriel, would you like to study Frenchwith me? The review from the very beginning would do me just worlds ofgood." There were sudden tears in the eyes of the island girl. "How kindyou all are to be helpin' me," she said, adding: "If you think I'll beneedin' the French, I'll try."
"Indeed you will need it, some time." Then Joy suggested that they go tothe court at two, when every other pupil would be occupied indoors.Muriel said that she would. At the door Joy turned, and lifting a finger,slender as a fairy-wand, she whispered, "Mums the word! Don't even tellFaith, will you?"
Luckily the court was hidden from the school by a group of evergreentrees and so no one observed the two conspirators that afternoon.Patiently Joy explained the play, and Muriel, who was used to quickthought and action in her sailboat, was an apt pupil.
At the end of the first half hour Joy declared that practice was all thatthe island girl needed to perfect her in the smash stroke. "Meet me everyday at this hour," her instructress said, as they returned to the schoolby a roundabout path, keeping their rackets well hidden.
With each succeeding day Joy's pleasure in her pupil increased. She didnot have to expend much energy herself, as when the ball fell dead shemerely picked it up and tossed it over the net. At first Muriel succeededonly once in a while, but on the fifth day she never failed.
And yet, at the practice hour with the other girls, not once did Rillabetray the fact that she knew the smash stroke. Joy wanted to surprisethem on the day of the tournament.
Faith, Gladys and Catherine wondered why Joy seemed to be so excitedabout the coming game, indeed almost jubilant.