Besides, Monica showed a certain courage in the way she patiently ignored the scornful looks and sneers that came from some of the girls, and Nat admired pluck. Nat wouldn't have had the least sympathy with a girl who cried and made an unnecessary fuss at receiving a blow on the hockey or cricket field, though she would have been one of the first to run to help her.
By the end of a week the girls had certainly forgotten their first bitter animosity. They had been busy with term examinations for several days, and when they met together after lesson hours now, it was to compare answers and discuss the difficulty or otherwise of the various papers. Everyone was glad when Tuesday evening arrived, for the next morning would see the last of the examination papers, and after that they would be able to take things more easily—lessons, that is, for there was still Speech Day to prepare for, a fortnight hence, and the hockey Final to be played.
On Tuesday evening the Fifth were full of a suggested paper-chase for Wednesday half-day. It was the weather that was chiefly responsible for the idea. It had turned very cold, and violent exertion was necessary to keep oneself warm. The ground was quite hard, the air clear and frosty, and there was no wind: simply ideal weather for a paper-chase. Besides, it was very good training for their hockey Final and they would find it a relief to "let off steam" after the strain of the examinations.
It was decided that the paper-chase should be a really good one, not a half-and-half affair, as Glenda put it, but five or six miles over the country. Most of the Fifth, with the exception of a few of the less physically energetic whose spirits quailed at the thought of those five or six miles, agreed to join in. Many of the Fourth were eager to participate, and Pam and Deirdre of the Sixth also announced that they would like to share the fun. The Fifth had already selected Nat as hare, for two reasons. Firstly, she was one of the quickest and most tireless runners in the school, and secondly, in the summer months she was so fond of taking long walks and cycling expeditions in search of flowers or botanical specimens for the nature-study competition, that she had an extensive and detailed knowledge of the surrounding country, and could be relied upon to choose a suitable and interesting route. Following their usual custom, they left it to Nat to select a girl to accompany her as second hare.
While most of the Fourth and Fifth were busily engaged in the common room, tearing up paper into small pieces, Nat, who was nothing if not practical, declared her intention of running five or six times round the garden to see how long it would take to get her "second wind." As she slipped out of the back door she became aware that Monica had followed her.
"Hullo, what do you want?" she asked, in surprise. "Are you going to join in the paper-chase or do you consider it waste of time and energy?"
"Take me with you as the other hare," was Monica's amazing proposal. "I am sure I should make a good hare."
Nat gasped. "But—but do you really mean it?" she stuttered.
"Yes, of course I do. I can run fast, though I've never learnt any of your games. I used to run about for miles in the country where I lived, and never get tired."
Nat surveyed the slight but alert figure beside her.