‘Why I guess that’s so.’

‘Thank you very much for bringing it,’ said Jennifer gratefully.

‘It was really no trouble. Only I confess I felt a little shy. Schools always make me feel shy. So many girls. Oh, by the way, I was asked to bring back your old racquet with me.’

She picked up the racquet Jennifer had dropped.

‘Your aunt—no—godmother—said she would have it restrung. It needs it badly, doesn’t it?’

‘I don’t think that it’s really worth while,’ said Jennifer, but without paying much attention.

She was still experimenting with the swing and balance of her new treasure.

‘But an extra racquet is always useful,’ said her new friend. ‘Oh dear,’ she glanced at her watch. ‘It is much later than I thought. I must run.’

‘Have you—do you want a taxi? I could telephone—’

‘No, thank you, dear. My car is right by the gate. I left it there so that I shouldn’t have to turn in a narrow space. Goodbye. So pleased to have met you. I hope you enjoy the racquet.’

She literally ran along the path towards the gate. Jennifer called after her once more. ‘Thank you very much.’

Then, gloating, she went in search of Julia.

‘Look,’ she flourished the racquet dramatically.

‘I say! Where did you get that?’

‘My godmother sent it to me. Aunt Gina. She’s not my aunt, but I call her that. She’s frightfully rich. I expect Mummy told her about me grumbling about my racquet. It is smashing, isn’t it? I must remember to write and thank her.’

‘I should hope so!’ said Julia virtuously.

‘Well, you know how one does forget things sometimes. Even things you really mean to do. Look, Shaista,’ she added as the latter girl came towards them. ‘I’ve got a new racquet. Isn’t it a beauty?’

‘It must have been very expensive,’ said Shaista, scanning it respectfully. ‘I wish I could play tennis well.’

‘You always run into the ball.’

‘I never seem to know where the ball is going to come,’ said Shaista vaguely. ‘Before I go home, I must have some really good shorts made in London. Or a tennis dress like the American champion Ruth Allen wears. I think that is very smart. Perhaps I will have both,’ she smiled in pleasurable anticipation.

‘Shaista never thinks of anything except things to wear,’ said Julia scornfully as the two friends passed on. ‘Do you think we shall ever be like that?’

‘I suppose so,’ said Jennifer gloomily. ‘It will be an awful bore.’

They entered the Sports Pavilion, now officially vacated by the police, and Jennifer put her racquet carefully into her press.

‘Isn’t it lovely?’ she said, stroking it affectionately.

‘What have you done with the old one?’

‘Oh, she took it.’

‘Who?’

‘The woman who brought this. She’d met Aunt Gina at a cocktail party, and Aunt Gina asked her to bring me this as she was coming down here today, and Aunt Gina said to bring up my old one and she’d have it restrung.’