Most of the girls who had been relieved from basketball practice had run in to change to their street clothing. On the lower floor of the gymnasium building was the swimming pool, shower baths, and dressing room, besides the lockers for field materials, the doctor’s and instructor’s offices, and the hair-drying room. Above was the gymnasium proper with all the indoor apparatus allowed by the rules of the Girls’ Branch.
Each girl had her own locker and key, the key to be handed in at the instructor’s office when she left the building. When Hester came into the long dressing room there was a chatter of voices and laughter. There was no restriction on talking in here.
Lily met her chum at the door. The former was naturally a pale girl, rather pretty, but much given to aping fashions and frocks of grown women.
“I’d like to box that Bobby Hargrew’s ears,” she said, to her angry chum. “She was just saying that you’d queer the team again before you got through. She’s always hinting that you lost that last game we played East High last spring.”
“I’ll just fix her for that—the mean little thing!” snapped Hester, and being just in the mood for quarreling she stalked over to where little Clara Hargrew was talking to a group of friends, among whom were Nellie Agnew and the Lockwood twins.
“So you’re slandering me, as usual, are you, Miss?” demanded Hester, her face very fiery and her voice very loud.
“Meaning me?” demanded Bobby, shaking her curly head, and grinning impishly at the bigger girl.
“Who else would I mean, Miss?” pursued Hester.
“I couldn’t slander you, Hessie,” said the mischief-loving Bobby.
“You are a trouble-maker all the time, Bobby Hargrew——” began the older girl, but Bobby broke in with: