f yours. And you can run,
too--I watched you particularly to-day."

Gerry's heart glowed within her, but Muriel's next words filled her
with alarm.

"Now, do you know what I want you to do? We're playing the return
match against the Green Dorm on Saturday week, and if you keep on
improving, as I think you will, I'm going to put you down to play again
for the Pink. No--wait a minute," as Gerry gave a little exclamation
of protest. "It won't be back this time. I shall put you on the wing
somewhere, or else half-back--I'm not quite sure myself yet. But I
specially want you to play, and to play well. I want to give you an
opportunity of wiping out last Saturday in the eyes of the school. And
if you've got the grit I think you have, you're going to take it."

There was silence for a moment or two. Then Gerry spoke uncertainly:

"But--but suppose I funk again?"

"You won't funk," said Muriel, with a quiet conviction that did more to
reassure the nervous girl at her side than any amount of arguing would
have done. To some natures the greatest incentive to do well is the
knowledge that somebody believes in them implicitly. Gerry, whose
first impulse had been to refuse the offer in a panic and beg Muriel at
all costs to leave her name out of the team, seemed to catch some of
the elder girl's confidence. If _only_ she could--if only she could
overcome her nerves sufficiently to do well! If she could distinguish
herself in the coming match and show the girls that though she was
funky at some things she wasn't a coward all through, how splendid it
would be! Oh, she would, she would! She would play and justify
Muriel's confidence in her. She wouldn't funk again.

"Are you quite sure you're not _afraid_ to play a coward?" she said, in
such a low tone that Muriel could only just catch the obnoxious word.
But she did catch it, and stopping suddenly, she laid her hands firmly
on the younger girl's shoulders.

"Now, look here, Gerry, don't be absurd!" she said. "Even if some of
the girls _have_ called you that, there's no earthly reason why you
should imagine that it's true. Just buck up and make up your mind that
you won't be a coward. You _needn't_ be, you know. Being brave isn't
just a matter of not fearing things. The very bravest people of all
are often those who are the most afraid and yet who conquer their
fears. You conquered your fear quite a lot this afternoon. You got
one quite nasty bang on your