Nat gazed at Monica in wonder. "That's true enough," she said slowly. "I can't think how you can find out such things so quickly."
"Haven't you any ambitions then?" asked Monica. It was the first time she had sought the other girl's confidence.
"Oh yes, only I don't aim as high as you," Nat admitted ruefully. "I've three ambitions at present. First, to come out anywhere above bottom place in a school exam. I'm so tired of being twitted at home by the boys when my report arrives. It's developed into a sort of family joke. Secondly, to get a place in the hockey first eleven before I leave school. And thirdly, never to darn another stocking in my life."
Monica burst out laughing for the first time since Nat had known her. "Well, they are modest enough," she commented. "I should say the first rests with yourself. As for the second, I don't know anything about hockey. But the last is easy enough. You can pay one of the maids to keep your stockings mended for you, I expect. Now let me get on with my prep. I've quite made up my mind about seeing my name heading the exam list," and nodding her head decisively she bent over her books once more.
CHAPTER V
THE HOCKEY SHIELD
The Sixth and Fifth were holding a meeting in the former's classroom. Madge Amhurst was in the chair—that is to say, she occupied the mistress's dais—-and the rest of the girls found seats at desks or window-sills or on hot-water pipes. The subject under discussion was, they considered, of great importance. Should St. Etheldreda's compete this year for the Secondary and High Schools' Hockey Shield or should they not? The competition was open to any schools in the county, but till now St. Etheldreda's had not entered for it, chiefly because they did not consider themselves capable of raising a team good enough to justify their competing. Madge, who as usual had a good deal to say, was stating the case in favour of entering. Madge, of course, was one of the hockey players.
"It's like this," she was explaining. "Last year most of the Sixth played netball and had no interest at all in the hockey, and we had to draw chiefly on the younger girls for an eleven. It isn't much good putting in a team of youngsters when it's a case of playing some of the best elevens in the county. Nobody minds being beaten in a sporting game, of course, but we didn't want to make sillies of ourselves—expose ourselves to ridicule and all that. But this year the school is in a very different position as regards hockey. The present Sixth, with the exception of Pam, all play hockey and so do a good many of the Fifth. There are also several very promising players in the Fourth. Personally I think we could get up a team good enough to play any other school in the county."
"What does Allison say about it?" asked Deirdre Samways, one of the prefects.
"Allison thinks we've a very good chance. She's in favour of entering."