Nan and her sisters had their work cut out for them; they knew everybody and they were free of the house. It was they who helped Dick arrange the tennis-matches, who pointed out to the young men of the party which was the tea-tent, and where the ices and claret-cup were to be found. They marshalled the elder ladies into pleasant nooks, where they could be sheltered from the sun and see all that was going on.
"No, thank you; I shall not play tennis this afternoon; there are too many of us, and I am so busy," Nan said, dismissing one after another who came up to her. "If you want a partner, there is Carrie Paine, who is dying for a game."
Dick, who was passing with Lady Fitzroy on his arm, whom he was hurrying somewhat unceremoniously across the field, threw her a grateful glance as he went by.
"What a sweet-looking girl that is!" said Lady Fitzroy, graciously, as she panted a little over her exertion.
"Who?--Nan? Yes; isn't she a brick?--and the others too?" for Phillis and Dulce were just as self-denying in their labors. As Mr. Mayne said afterwards, "They were just everywhere, those Challoners, like a hive of swarming bees;" which, as it was said in a grumbling tone, was ungrateful, to say the least of it.
Dick worked like a horse too; he looked all the afternoon as though he had a tough job in hand that required the utmost gravity and despatch. He was forever hurrying elderly ladies across the field towards the refreshment-tent, where he deposited them, panting and heated, in all sorts of corners.
"Are you quite comfortable? May I leave you now? or shall I wait and take you back again?" asked Dick, who was eager for a fresh convoy.
"No, no; I would rather stay here a little," returned Mrs. Paine, who was not desirous of another promenade with the hero of the day. "Go and fetch some one else, Dick: I am very well off where I am," exchanging an amused glance with one of her friends, as Dick, hot and breathless, started off on another voyage of discovery.
Dick's behavior had been simply perfect all the afternoon in his father's eyes; but later on, when the band struck up a set of quadrilles, he committed his first solecism in manners: instead of asking Lady Fitzroy to dance with him, he hurried after Nan.