CHAPTER IX
WHILE THE CAT'S AWAY
That evening, however, Nat and the Fifth had other things to think of besides their own particular black sheep and her delinquencies. Miss Julian and Miss Bennett were taking them to a large neighbouring town, where a good-class travelling company were giving a performance of one of the Shakespearean plays that the Fifth and Sixth were studying that year—"A Midsummer Night's Dream." Monica would have gone with the rest had she behaved herself that day, but now she was left behind. Considering this a sufficient punishment for her misdemeanours, Miss Bennett informed Monica just before the party set out that she was at liberty to leave the study and follow her ordinary pursuits.
After Miss Bennett had gone Monica still sat reading, but by half-past seven she had finished her book. It was an exciting story, and for a little while she had lost herself in its contents. Now she put it aside, and gazing round the study she realized suddenly and overwhelmingly how quiet and lonely it was. For some minutes she sat brooding, but the silence and loneliness became more than she could bear, and springing to her feet she hurried out into the passage. How quiet it was in that part of the house; not a single sound could be heard from any of the studies, not a single crack of light shone from under their doors!
Very soon, Monica reflected, the Fifth and Sixth would be enjoying themselves at the theatre, laughing at the funny antics of Bottom and his fellow-artisans. Well, she, Monica, could make her own fun. Walking to the end of the corridor she heard the sound of voices in the common room. It would be the lower forms, just released from prep in their classrooms. During the winter months their prep hours were from five-thirty to seven-thirty, and from then till half-past eight they were free to do what they pleased. She would join them. The Fourth were a lively set, not nearly as stodgy as the conscientious Fifth.
It appeared that the netball champions of the Fourth and Third had called a meeting of their supporters. Pam's two independent younger sisters had never approved of their sister's inclusion in the hockey eleven—especially Prue, the youngest. She was particularly indignant just now because the netball club had arranged their most important fixture for a date in the near future, and Pam had informed them that she would be unable to play, as St. Etheldreda's would be engaged in their third shield match on that very same day. Prue and the other netballites considered that they had just cause for grievance.
As Monica quietly entered the room and took a seat, Prue was in the act of declaiming loudly: "No Preston was ever content to sit down with folded arms and, like Mr. Micawber, wait for something to turn up. Words are of no use. Have we not protested in vain? No, we have got to show them how much we resent it."
Monica's eyes brightened. The evening need not be so dull, after all! The opportunity for a little fun was there in front of her. She had only to grasp it. She rose to her feet and walked forward.
"As one of netball's most enthusiastic exponents," she interrupted—this was hardly true, but Prue and her friends were too much impressed by the long words to trouble about their accuracy—"may I address a few words to the meeting?"
Prue hesitated. The new girl was reputed to be a bit "queer." But, after all, she had joined the netball club in spite of the fact that practically all the Fifth played hockey. She had also played in the last netball match and had not acquitted herself badly, beyond breaking most of the rules in the game through ignorance or over-excitement. Prue mentally recalled Monica's part in the match. Yes, she had certainly been pulled up by the referee for running with the ball once or twice, for holding it longer than three seconds, for getting offside and once for inadvertently kicking the ball. On the other hand she had been extremely quick in running and jumping to intercept the ball, had held her passes well, and passed quite accurately herself, and had seemed to enjoy the game thoroughly once she had got into it.