Allison could not help chuckling as she read it.
"They're holding hostages for you, Pam," she said, then her expression becoming more thoughtful she added: "Did you say the netball match is postponed?"
Pam nodded and showed Allison the letter she had received from the opposing netball secretary. Allison again looked at the mysterious epistle from the "one who noes."
She gave a little laugh. "It's simple enough," she said. "Accept their proposal as gracefully as possible. As the netball match is postponed, Pam can turn out for both teams without upsetting anyone. They on their side must keep their bargain and return the sticks if Pam promises to play in the 'next netball match'—as it says here. Then I hope it will be a case of all's well that end's well."
"Why, of course that's the way out!" cried Madge. "What muffs we were not to think of it ourselves!"
"Well, I think you were," said Allison candidly. "Perhaps Pam had better not mention at first that the netball match has been postponed, then their disappointment will be greater when they find they haven't got their own way entirely and Pam is still playing for the hockey team."
Already faces were brightening.
"Thanks awfully for your help, Allison," said Deirdre. "You are a brick."
"No," replied Allison, "not a bit of it. It's you who are the bricks for not wanting to worry me with prefects' affairs. I do appreciate it, I can tell you. Suppose you all come along to my study and have a cup of tea. I've a cake just sent from home, and I think I can persuade Ethel to let me have the tea on a tray from the kitchen." The prefects accepted the invitation with alacrity.
Before the day was ended a list appeared upon the notice-board, headed: "Team chosen to play in the netball match against St. Margaret's," and against the position of goal-defender appeared Pam Preston's name. There was great excitement in the group of netball players who had gathered round to read it.