and when she pulls on her croquet gloves 
like that, it means war to the knife, and no quarter. So, 
my dear, begin the tournament." 

The wickets were arranged at extra  upon this 
trial ground, and it was hardly prudent to attempt making 
two wickets at once, but Miss Sophie played in the adven- 
turous style, and sent her ball with a vigorous tap not only 
through both the first wickets, but so far ahead that it was 
entangled in the wires of the middle wicket, in a way that 
made it impossible to give it a fair stroke. 

" Now, how vexatious ! " she cried. 

"I have two extra strokes for my two wickets, but I 
shall make nothing by it." In fact. Miss Sophie, with 
two nervous hits, succeeded only in placing her ball exactly 
where with fair luck the next player must be sure to get it. 

Eva now came through the first two wickets, one at a 
time, and with a well-directed tap took possession of Miss 
Sophie, who groaned audibly, "Oh, now she's got me! 
well, there *s no saying now where she '11 stop." 

In fact, Miss Eva performed very skillfully the rdle of 
the "cat who doth play, and after