"Even to cheating in a public exam," added Pam. "Or there was a rumour in the school to that effect at one time. Still, perhaps there wasn't any truth in it."
Deirdre, who was the possessor of an even, placid disposition, only smiled. "But perhaps Nat really is a good player," she said. "She's pretty good at most games, isn't she?"
"Yes, quite," replied Pam. "Only she's generally an unlucky sort of player—falls down or something just at the critical moment."
"Yes," added Madge. "Don't you remember last sports day, how she led all through the obstacle race and at the very last obstacle, when everybody thought she was bound to win, she got stuck while crawling between the rungs of the ladder and could move neither forwards nor backwards? They had to get a hatchet to knock out the spokes before they could release her."
"Of course I remember," replied Deirdre, "especially Nat's face when they appeared with an enormous hatchet. Till then she had been rather pleased at the sensation she was creating," and the three prefects went off laughing at the recollection.
St. Etheldreda's was jubilant at the result of their first match. They gained a victory by three goals to two over a large High School from a neighbouring town of some size. Allison was particularly pleased for, as she pointed out to the other Sixth-formers in the eleven, this early triumph would give the team both enthusiasm and confidence. She also declared it was her belief that this was the best team the school had ever produced.
The only fly in the ointment was the attitude of the netball partisans, many of whom were very indignant at Pam's inclusion in the team, and although they themselves had had no match that afternoon they had shown their resentment by refusing to appear on the field as spectators and supporters.
A week after this match Nat was alone in her study busily writing letters when there came a tap on the door and Madge, who was accompanied by Allison, looked in.
"There you are, Nat," she said. "I just called to say that you are down as reserve for the match next Saturday. We are playing away, you know. It will be all right for you, won't it?"
Nat nodded. "Yes, I can come, of course," she replied. It was not the first time she had been picked for the rather unenviable position of reserve in first eleven matches.