All eyes were turned to Pam. Here was an idea!
"If Pam could keep goal at hockey anything like she does at netball!" exclaimed Glenda. "She is as quick as lightning."
"That's all very well," Pam interrupted. "But what about netball matches? If they happened to clash with yours I couldn't be in two places at once."
"Oh, bother the netball!" Madge exclaimed impatiently. "I think it ought to be made a junior game for the smaller ones. Everyone knows it's you Prestons who keep it going. There wouldn't be a team worth calling a team if it weren't for you three."
Here a voice from somewhere behind was heard as a head bobbed up from one of the back row desks. "I've joined the netball team, let me tell you," said Monica loudly.
Nat pulled her down into her seat with a violent jerk at her skirt, saying in a fierce whisper, "Sit down, whippersnapper! Everyone knows you joined the netball club out of sheer contrariness, because practically all the Fifth play hockey."
The Sixth-formers ignored this unseemly interruption as beneath their notice. Several of them were imploring Pam to "think it over."
"Well, I won't refuse right out," said Pam reluctantly at last. "But I won't make any promises. You must give me a day or two to consider."
The meeting finally adjourned upon the decision to enter St. Etheldreda's as a competitor for the shield and it was left to Deirdre Samways, the new captain, to arrange practices with the help of Madge, the club secretary. Madge, beaming with satisfaction, clambered down from her high seat and was in the act of turning to follow Deirdre out of the room when a voice murmured just behind her:
"Excuse me, but is this your handkerchief or is it the blackboard duster?" and Madge turned hastily to behold a slight, dark-haired girl holding out a handkerchief towards her.