Great Weather For Tennis

"Is that you. Don?" I asked. (Not Don Priestley. Another Don). "I want to ask you a favor."

"Hullo. Some little word you've forgotten how to spell?"

"No. I want you to play tennis with us to-day."

I waited anxiously. It was months since I had had a game and there was a rumour going around that Max Turner had been painting some lines on one of the courts and moreover, I had developed a rather natty back hand swerve that I wanted to try out. So you can imagine how keen I felt.

"Hullo, Hullo, Hullo! Are you there?"

"Yes," I said. "Will you play tennis with us to-day?"

"I thought so," said Don. "I say, the wires are crossed. I distinctly heard someone talking tennis. Ring off and I'll ring you again."

"I was," I replied patiently, "I want you to play tenuis to-day."

" You! Tennis? To-day? You're quite serious? Tennis—on a day like this! Well, well, well!"

"Joey and Janice arc coming," I added, "and we'll see you at the gym. about two-ish."

"Joey and—who did you say? Who is Janice?"

"Nobody. I just made her up. I don't want the readers of Smad to know who the fourth is."

"Oh, all right," said Don. "Goodbye."

He rang up again almost immediately.

"It's not formal, is it? I don't have to scamper about in crepe de chene and so on, do I?"

They were all there when I arrived, gathered around the tennis leader, blowing their lingers and shivering. They insisted on playing in their coats and finally I managed to lure them out of the gym.

We met the secretary of the Students' Association on the verandah. He stared hard at our racquets and drew his garments around him.

"My word, you must have good constitutions," he commented.

"Victoria College," said Don, "is the Home of Constitutions. How is yours, Charlie?"

Charlie laughed good-humouredly.

"Don't," I begged. "It has gone well past the joking stage, now. Just look at this issue of Smad!"

"Well, what can you do?" lie asked. "Here is a very serious matter awaiting consideration and only about 4 per cent, of the students know anything about the College of Electors."

"Well," said Janice, "only a dozen or so want to. They're all too dull in my opinion."

"Well," returned Charlie, doggedly. "If they don 't jolly well read it, it'll go into every 'Smad' until they do! That's all."

"Attaboy!" crowed Joey.

"There's Max Riske," said Don. "How's Your Constitution getting on, Max?"

"We've got one finished," said Max, "but I've just had an idea for another. Don't stop me." He hurried on.

"I think it was Reardon," mused Joey, "who phophesied that our favourite indoor sport this year would be drawing up Constitutions."

Was a well accomplished fact.

Finally I had them herded on the good court. I took the service. My first ball was trapped neatly under Don's racquet and he promptly holed it out into the drain, writing his score on an imaginary card.

Joey, with arms and legs Hying, went for a steeplechase down the courts, leaping in line style over imaginary hazards, his muffler streaming out behind him.

I served another ball. Don hurled away his racquet and to the accompaniment of a lively whistling solo from Joey, began a series of smart morning exercises, Janice following two movements behind.

I waited grimly until they were ready. I served an easy one which Janice was about to return to my partner (who was talking to someone through the hedge) when Don caught it and with it at his feet, started a dribbling rush down the court. Joey took it neatly from him and carried play down towards, the college buildings. Don robbed him of a certain try and came up the paddock at a terrific pace, tried page 6 for a field goal and lost the ball in Salamanca Road.

So then we had tea with the Executive. We talked lightly of this and of that, touched on the various Constitutions and even joked over the college of Electors and Women's Franchise. Joey held out great hopes for the N.U.S. this year. Pen, our president, listening to our idle chatter with a twinkle in his eye. Ralph Bannister popped in for a while and seemed in favour of everything.....

At four we found another ball and played for a further three minutes during which time I lost the game.

No one wanted to take the service. Don had the cramp. Joey and Janice had frostbite.

"Well, one of you has to," I announced.

"Oh, hurry," squealed Don, "I think I'm dying of Exposure!"

So I took it again myself. At five Don went to look lor mittens and the other two played. "My mother says that I never should—to keep their hands warm.

Don returned some minutes later looking mysterious. We watched him as he unwrapped a parcel he was carrying and took out a little candle which he lit and set in the middle of the court.

"That's better," he said. "Now perhaps we shall be able to see what we are doing."

Then we went back to talk Constitution with Charlie.