ing
the letter to her chums. "But their captain says it's the only time they
can get their field. It's used by another club in the afternoons, so
she's fixed eleven o'clock."

"It suits me rather decently," said Janie Potter. "I'm going out to tea
in the afternoon, so I couldn't have come if the match had been at
three. Don't stare at me like that! _No_ I'm _not_ a slacker! I must
accept invitations to tea sometimes, even if I _am_ in the team. What a
dragon you are, Blossom!"

"Good thing some one keeps the team up, or you'd be gadding off
tea-drinking instead of playing!" returned Blossom grimly. "Grovebury
expects every girl to do her duty on Saturday. It will be bad luck for
the season if we lose our first match."

The Clinton Old Girls' Association had its field at Denscourt, a town
ten miles away from Grovebury. It was arranged by the team, and for any
girls from the college who cared to come as spectators, to meet at the
railway station at 10:15, and travel together under the escort of Miss
Giles.

Ingred, who was a keen player, and very proud of having been placed in
the reserve, was to spend Friday night at the hostel, instead of
returning as usual to Wynch-on-the-Wold.

Nora, Verity, and Fil were also to be numbered among the spectators.

On the eventful morning, as the girls were just finishing breakfast, a
telegram arrived for Rachel Grant. She tore open the yellow envelope,
and her face fell as she read the brief message. Her mother was
seriously ill, and she must return home immediately. Mrs. Best went
upstairs at once to arrange for her hurried journey, and to help her to
pack.

Downstairs at the breakfast-table the girls discussed the bad news. They
were very sorry for Rachel, and also for themselves, for she was their
right inner.

"It's like our luck!" fretted Janie Potter.

"Too disgusting for words!" groused Doreen Hayward.

"Poor old Rachel!" groaned Fil.

"What's going to be done?" asked everybody, as they folded their
serviettes and left the table.

That question was answered by Miss Giles, who beckoned to Ingred in the
hall, and said briefly:

"Ingred, will you fetch your hockey-stick and pads?"

Ingred did not need telling twice. To take Rachel's place was indeed an
honor. Such a chance did not come often. With huge satisfaction she
donned her neat navy-blue skirt, edged with its orange band, and her
blouse with its orange collar and cuffs.

"You lucker!" sighed Nora envious