“Between the two clubs he had small chance to be alone with Miss Burton that week he was here,” laughed Betty.

“He was a dear to take us all to Boston and give us such a dandy time,” murmured Charlotte.

“What a week we had,” said Alice, pulling her black locks apart to get out the snarls.  “Can’t you just see Marie’s face when we gave her that two hundred dollars?”

“She’s so happy now,” added Ruth, “and she’s getting better every day.  Arthur and I rode by there yesterday, and she was out helping her aunt make a garden.”

“Isn’t your hair most dry, girls?” asked Dorothy, with a sudden change of subject.  “Let’s hurry and put it up any old way, and then have some tennis.”

There was a simultaneous groan from Katharine and Charlotte.

“I didn’t expect anything of you two lazy things,” said Dorothy coolly.  “I’m glad you don’t want to, for that leaves just the four of us without any fuss about deciding.”

“I’d like to play,” said Ruth, tugging at her refractory curls, “only you’ll have to wait till I do my hair properly, and take this mess of towels into the house.”

“Oh, Ruth, if I didn’t like you so much I should say you were pernickety,” cried Dorothy impatiently.

“I suppose I am fussy,” confessed Ruth.  “But mother was always very particular about having me keep my own things in order, and especially about leaving other people’s belongings the way I found them, and I can’t get over the habit.”

“For goodness’ sake, you sound as if you thought it was a crime,” said Charlotte.  “I only wish I had a few such bad habits as that.”

“I’m a shining example for you, Charlotte,” laughed Betty, “for I cleared up my top bureau drawer to-day.”

“You’re a shining example for me in more ways than one, Betsy,” answered Charlotte with such unexpected earnestness that rosy Betty grew rosier than ever.

For a few minutes the girls worked busily, and the hair, black, brown, shining gold and burnished copper, was soon adorning the heads of its owners in the accustomed way.  Ruth and Betty took in the towels and brought out racquets and balls.  Charlotte and Katharine languidly changed their seats to where they could watch the court, and the other four began a vigorous game.

It was a long and hotly contested deuce set, and ended in favor of Dorothy and Alice just as Katie appeared with tray and glasses.

“Ellen thought you’d like some lemonade, Miss Ruth.  I’ll bring it out directly.”

Ellen’s lemonade was a work of art; full of tantalizing and unexpected flavors of orange, mint and clove.  The girls, who knew it of old, groaned with pleasure at sight of the frosty-looking pitcher with sprigs of mint at the top.

“This is richness,” sighed Dorothy, as she settled herself on the big rug and took one of the fresh chocolate-frosted cakes that Katie had brought out.

“Ellen’s the best old dear,” said Ruth.  “I never even have to ask for things.”