Page:Maud Howe - A Newport Aquarelle.djvu/74

 ladies, and was not very sure of himself, but he did his best, and found that his pretty speeches were graciously, if cynically, listened to.

She puzzled him, this beauty, whose eyes did not droop, nor color change, under the ardent look of admiration which he fixed upon her.

She was thoroughly mistress of the situation, and when, after a too flagrant compliment, she turned upon him and with good-natured satire analyzed and caricatured all his speeches, cutting them to pieces, he was forced to laugh at her wit, though it had been at his own expense.

She liked his flattery, as he plainly saw, though it did not deceive her.

And when he asked if he might come to-morrow and coach her a little in her serving at tennis, which had seemed to him faulty that day at the Casino, she consented, and appointed the hour of twelve for the lesson.

"You will stay and lunch with us after the