se girls were
Girl Scouts; Alice Endicott, who had not yet made up her chemistry
laboratory work, was still outside of Pansy troop.

The hockey game, the dinner-dance, and the holiday preparations made the
very air seem to tingle with excitement and anticipation. When the day
came, Marjorie made no attempt to reserve her energy for the later
events; she sang and danced about all morning with happiness. This year
she was well prepared to meet Miss Martin's team, not only individually,
for she was in good practice and excellent physical trim herself, but as
captain of her own team, she felt confident of her players.

The girls were out on the field early, practicing "passes," and warming
up for the game. Everyone on the team expected to play; but Helen
Stewart and Barbara Hill, besides one or two other moderately good
players, came in readiness to substitute should they be needed.

As the team from Miss Martin's approached the field, the critical
observer could mark the difference between these girls and those from
the home team. Long hikes, sensible clothing and food, and two weeks at
the Scout camp with exposure to all kinds of weather, had hardened Miss
Allen's girls and added something almost boyish to their bearing. And in
Marjorie they had an excellent captain, resourceful and confident of
success, whose calm assurance inspired them.

From the opening stroke when Marjorie, the center forward, sent the ball
at one bound across the field to her left forward, who dodged the
opposing half-back, the game seemed almost a walk-over for Miss Allen's
girls. Only once did Miss Martin's side make a goal, and then Lily
Andrews took all the blame for it upon herself.

"I thought it was too easy," she afterward explained to Marjorie, "and I
didn't work hard enough. It served me right, but I'm sorry for the
team."

At the end of the first half, with the score six to two in their favor,
Miss Phillips decided to give both the regular substitutes a chance. But
instead of making it easier for the opponents, it became more difficult,
for Helen Stewart had always been a good player, and Barbara Hill, who
had successful streaks, seemed to be particularly lucky. It was an easy
victory for Miss Allen's girls; the final score was fourteen to two.

"This decides me!" exclaimed Miss Martin, after she had congratulated
Miss Phillips and her team. "Now I am convinced of the value of a Girl
Scout troop."

"If you'd see our reports, you'