Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/316

 Pleasing as was the implied compliment to our skill, I would not unwillingly have remained, for a while longer, a mere spectator of the animated scene. The fair players, with their shortened skirts, moved with the grace and agility of antelopes; while their bright sashes and caps, red for the zeruan, blue for the vioran, flashed like the wings of bright-hued tropical birds among the more sober tints of the zerdar costume. It was plain that the vioran, notwithstanding their zeal and activity, and that the best partners had been assigned to them, were overmatched by the greater skill and experience of the zeruan, their seniors by a few years.

Reva, who had made the same observation during her enforced inactivity, returned with ardor to the aid of her hard-pressed companions. She was surprised as well as pleased at the skill I showed with the raquet, as she explained to me daring a pause in our efforts. This led, on my part, to an exposition of the nature of lawn-tennis. Thus, again, led me to betray the fact, that, during the past week, I had been preparing for her a surprise in the form of a series of sketches from memory of Edith Alston in various costumes, tennis, yachting, riding. I felt amply rewarded for my labors by the flush of pleased surprise that lighted up the beautiful face, and the thanks expressed in the bright eyes that looked so frankly into mine. But no more was said at the moment, as we were summoned into action.

"Why did you speak of those sketches?" said Reva, when next we were at leisure. "I can think of nothing else. If I lose the thread of my discourse to-night," she added, laughing, "I hope you will feel duly repentant."