“May I come in for a few moments, Miss Forbes? I wish particularly to see you.”
For answer Gussie merely opened the door wider and stood aside for Marjorie to pass her. She thought she understood the nature of the call. Miss Dean had come to tell her she was no longer a member of the freshman team. Well, she was not afraid to face this senior who had made fun of her on sight.
“Will you have a chair?” she said formally, closing the door and coming forward until she stood directly in front of her caller.
“Thank you.” Marjorie sat down, her brown eyes fixed on her reserved hostess. There was a world of kindness in their beautiful depths which Gussie could not overlook. She reluctantly sprang to the conclusion: “She’s sorry for me. She wants to let me down easily.”
“I have brought with me a letter, Miss Forbes. I should like you to read it. It displeased the sports committee very much. I beg of you not to take it to heart. It is not worth one minute’s discomfort on your part.”
Gussie accepted the letter in wonder. This explanation of Marjorie’s did not tally with what she had expected the senior would say. A bright flush mantled her checks as she read it.
“They threatened to do this,” she said dully as she returned the letter to Marjorie. “I play basket ball fairly. I am not rough, either. I had a fuss with a girl on the scrub team yesterday. The rest of our team stood up for her instead of me. I would have resigned before this, only I like to play basket ball. I saw no reason why I should give up my position.”
“There is no reason why you should not play,” warmly returned Marjorie. “No one could play a fairer game than you. Our committee have watched and admired your playing. All four of us used to play on the college teams. So we know a star player when we see one. Only lately we all saw that you were not being fairly treated. We had decided to put an end to such unfairness when I received this letter. I have seen the others on the sports committee. They are of the same mind as myself. We shall see that justice is done you.”
Augusta’s face had begun to clear as Marjorie talked. It brightened with each succeeding word. She forgot her earlier grudge against the other girl. She was hearing herself appreciated and it was very sweet to her.
“If these four players on the freshman team,” Marjorie continued, “refuse to be amicable on the floor, the sports committee will demand their resignations. We have the authority to do so and shall use it if necessary. It is our aim to have only pleasantness in connection with basket ball. Friendly rivalry between teams and harmony among the members of each team. That is the only basis on which to conduct college sports. I have seen it tried the other way, and it doesn’t pay.”