"Yes, she wrote that first letter to Monica, claiming her friendship and making flattering remarks about her clever ideas. I don't think Lilian had any crystallized plans—she was only fishing, as we say."
"And how did Monica reply?"
"At first she did not intend to reply at all. She had no desire to renew this semblance of a friendship that meant nothing to either girl. Later on, however, something happened; there was some sort of a quarrel between her and her study-mate, Nathalie Sandrich. I gather that Nathalie was angry and annoyed with her, and in the heat of the moment made some scathing remarks which Monica took very much to heart. As a result her preparation was neglected, leading to trouble next morning with Miss Bennett. In the bitterness of her spirit Monica employed the time which should have been spent at preparation in answering Lilian's letter. She relieved her feelings by saying in her reply that it would be an easy matter to spoil St. Etheldreda's chances by decoying you—Allison—away from the next match, by means of a bogus telegram summoning you home to London on account of illness. Everyone said that without you in the team St. Etheldreda's would fall to pieces. A feather in your cap, Allison!"
Allison blushed and laughed. "Oh, that's all nonsense!" she declared, then added: "Monica's idea wasn't very original, was it? It's been done so many times. Besides, she forgot there is such a thing as the telephone."
"Monica never really thought about it at all. She just put down the first thing that came into her head, with the idea of proving to Lilian what a simple task it was to anyone with brains."
Allison nodded. "I understand. Monica was just feeling sore and miserable, and not in a mood to care much what she said."
"That was it. However, it wasn't long before she and Nathalie made up their quarrel, and Monica thought no more of Lilian till she received an answer to her letter. Lilian was pleased at the idea of Monica 'putting a spoke in our wheel.' So much the better for her own team's chances, though she did not put it like that to Monica. The important point, as far as I am concerned, is that Monica was now settling down happily into our ways and getting quite keen on her school winning the shield. She promptly wrote back to Lilian to say that she was sorry if she had misled her, but she hadn't the least intention of interfering with the hockey team and, in fact, wished them all success. She had been silly enough to write that other letter when she had been in a miserable and 'don't-care' mood. The Principal enclosed this letter for me to read, for fortunately Lilian had not destroyed it. To do her justice, I think Lilian was rather ashamed when she heard that another girl had got into serious trouble through her own misdeeds."
"Then Lilian alone was responsible for that telegram?"
"Yes. She says she got a cousin who lived in London to send it."
"But why didn't Monica explain all this?" asked Allison, perplexed.