“I’m not!” replied Nellie.
Mrs. Case came hurriedly in. “You’ll have to rest that ankle, child” she said. “Captain Belding will have to put in a substitute.”
“No, Mrs. Case. I’m going to play out the game,” declared Nellie. “You must not forbid it. I’ve only twisted my ankle. It will be all right to-morrow. I’ll show you!” she cried, and began stripping off her shoe and stocking.
[CHAPTER XX—WINNING ALL ALONG THE LINE]
“I Can’t allow you to take risks, Nellie Agnew,” cried the physical instructor. “What would the doctor say to me?”
“I’ll tell you what Daddy Doctor would say,” returned Nellie, grinning grimly to answer the shoot of pain that went through the injured ankle.
“And what is that, Miss?”
“He‘d say: ’Grin and bear it! Play up!’” laughed Nellie, yet with a choke in her voice. “Bring me my bag, Bobby. I want my ‘first-aid’ kit.”
“Nellie!” gasped Laura, amazed to see the gentle girl so firm. “We can find somebody else to put in instead of you——”
“Yes, but you’re not going to,” cried Nellie. “Give me that bandage, Bobby. There, Mrs. Case! you know how it ought to be used. Tight—tight, now! That will hold me up. And, really, half an hour’s rest would cure the ache, anyway. Daddy Doctor admires pluck. He admires Hester’s bravery. I guess I wouldn’t be his daughter if I didn’t have just a bit of pluck myself.”