Twenty years are just a blink in time. But 20 years is also long enough for a man to grow up. It is always painful. For Andre Agassi, maturing in the spotlight of international tennis competition was even harder.

On September 3, the American tennis player said a tearful goodbye to his 21-year career after a third-round defeat in the US Open. The 36-year-old tried his best, but was unable to keep up with German Benjamin Becker, _ years his _

"The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what I've found," Agassi said to the fans. "I have found inspiration and you willed me to succeed." It was an emotional speech at the end of a long career.

Agassi hated tennis as a teenager as much as he loves it now. His father made him play when he was a child. He got bored, and became a rebel . The strict training that his father pushed upon him got in the way of his wild lifestyle. He grew hair long, wore colourful clothes and spat at a judge. Over the years, he has made bad jokes during news conferences Asked what he would say to his 17-year-old self, Agassi answered, "I would say, I understand you a lot more than I want to be you."

The turning point in Agassi's career came in 1992 when he unexpectedly won his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon. It was the first time Agassi understood what real champions finally understand: winning is a test of courage and not just power, it's a marathon, not a sprint .

And what a marathon Agassi was about to begin. He cut his long hair, got fitter and tightened up emotionally. On the court, he was ranked No. 1 for almost two years. His lowest point came in 1997 when his ranking dropped to No. 141. He didn't quit though. "I knew that I would try to get the most out of myself every day from that day forward. That was my promise," he said. "That never stopped." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who's the subject of the article?
2. Did he always love tennis?
3. How many years was he at the number 1 rank?
4. How many years did he play professionally?
5. How old was he at the time?
6. When did he win his first at Wimbledon?
7. When was his lowest point?
8. Why was it low?
9. To what?
10. What day did he retire?
Answer: 1. Andre Agassi.
2. No.
3. Almost two years.
4. 21 years.
5. 36.
6. 1992.
7. 1997.
8. His ranking dropped.
9. 141.
10. September 3.

CHAPTER LII.

SHOWING HOW THINGS WENT ON AT NONINGSBY.

Yes, Lady Staveley had known it before. She had given a fairly correct guess at the state of her daughter's affections, though she had not perhaps acknowledged to herself the intensity of her daughter's feelings. But the fact might not have mattered if it had never been told. Madeline might have overcome this love for Mr. Graham, and all might have been well if she had never mentioned it. But now the mischief was done. She had acknowledged to her mother,--and, which was perhaps worse, she had acknowledged to herself,--that her heart was gone, and Lady Staveley saw no cure for the evil. Had this happened but a few hours earlier she would have spoken with much less of encouragement to Peregrine Orme.

And Felix Graham was not only in the house, but was to remain there for yet a while longer, spending a very considerable portion of his time in the drawing-room. He was to come down on this very day at three o'clock, after an early dinner, and on the next day he was to be promoted to the dining-room. As a son-in-law he was quite ineligible. He had, as Lady Staveley understood, no private fortune, and he belonged to a profession which he would not follow in the only way by which it was possible to earn an income by it. Such being the case, her daughter, whom of all girls she knew to be the most retiring, the least likely to speak of such feelings unless driven to it by great stress,--her daughter had positively declared to her that she was in love with this man! Could anything be more hopeless? Could any position be more trying? What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who was the woman's daughter enamored with?
2. What was the daughter's name?
3. And her mom?
4. Had she admitted her feelings to her mom?
5. To herself?
6. Did her mom see a solution for the situation?
7. Where was the man currently?
8. Where did he spend a lot of time there?
9. Was he going to be there for awhile?
10. When was he expected today?
11. Was he wealthy?
12. Did he have a promising occupation?
13. Did the mother feel he was a suitable husband?
14. How did she describe his level of sutability?
15. Who else had the mother spoken to?
16. Was her daughter outgoing?
17. How did her mom characterize her personality?
18. Did the mom find the situation hopeful?
Answer: 1. Mr. Graham
2. Madeline
3. Lady Staveley
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. No
7. The house,
8. The drawing-room
9. Yes
10. Three o'clock,
11. No.
12. No.
13. No.
14. Quite ineligible
15. Peregrine Orme.
16. No
17. Retiring
18. No

CHAPTER XIX: Sammy Jay Is Modest

As soon as the angry hunter with the terrible gun had disappeared among the trees of the Green Forest, and Lightfoot was sure that he had gone for good, Lightfoot came out from his hiding-place on top of the ridge and walked down to the pond of Paddy the Beaver for a drink. He knew that it was quite safe to do so, for Sammy Jay had followed the hunter, all the time screaming, "Thief! thief! thief!" Every one within hearing could tell just where that hunter was by Sammy's voice. It kept growing fainter and fainter, and by that Lightfoot knew that the hunter was getting farther and farther away.

Paddy the Beaver swam out from his hiding-place and climbed out on the bank near Lightfoot. There was a twinkle in his eyes. "That blue-coated mischief-maker isn't such a bad fellow at heart, after all, is he?" said he.

Lightfoot lifted his beautiful head and set his ears forward to catch the sound of Sammy's voice in the distance.

"Sammy Jay may be a mischief-maker, as some people say," said he, "but you can always count on him to prove a true friend in time of danger. He brought me warning of the coming of the hunter the other morning. You saw him save Mr. and Mrs. Quack a little while ago, and then he actually drove that hunter away. I suppose Sammy Jay has saved more lives than any one I know of. I wish he would come back here and let me thank him." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Is Sammy Jay arrogant?
2. Who came out of hiding first?
3. Where did he go?
4. Was he human?
5. How old is he?
6. Who did he talk to?
7. Was it safe for them?
8. Who made it safe?
9. How?
10. Did anyone thank Sammy?
11. Why not?
Answer:
1. No
2. Lightfoot
3. The pond of Paddy the Beaver
4. No
5. unknown
6. Paddy the Beaver
7. Yes
8. Sammy Jay
9. He drove the hunter away.
10. No
11. He wasn't around