. The rink
packed with wildly excited throngs and in a certain reserved section
midway down the side the Templeton-Maitland party with its distinguished
looking men and beautiful women following with eager faces and shining
eyes the fortunes of their sons in the fight before them. The flash
of that picture was like a hand of ice upon his heart as Captain Jack
entered the cosy living room.

"Here he is, Mamma!" cried Patricia as she ushered her hero into the
room with a sweeping gesture. "And he brings the most cheering news.
They are going to win!"

"But how delightful!" exclaimed Adrien coming from the piano where she
had been playing, with Rupert Stillwell turning her music for her.

"I suppose upon the best authority," said Stillwell, grinning at
Patricia.

"We are so glad you found time to run in," said Mrs. Templeton. "You
must have a great deal to say to your team on the last afternoon."

"I'm glad I came too, now," said Captain Jack, holding the fragile hand
in his and patting it gently. "I am afraid Patricia is responsible for
my coming in. I don't really believe I could have ventured on my own."

A silence fell on the company which none of them seemed able to break.
Other days were hard upon them. In this very room it was that that
other seven were wont to meet for their afternoon tea before their great
matches.

Mrs. Templeton, looking up at Jack, found his eyes fixed upon her and
full of tears. With a swift upward reach of her arms she caught him and
drew his head to her breast.

"I know, Jack dear," she said, with lips that quivered piteously. For a
moment or two he knelt before her while she held him in a close embrace.
Then he gently kissed her cheek and rose to his feet.

"Give him some tea, Adrien," she said, making a gallant struggle to
steady her voice, "a cup of tea--and no cake. I remember, you see," she
added with a tremulous smile.

Adrien came back quickly from the window.

"Yes! a fresh cup!" she cried eagerly, "and a sandwich. You, Pat,
get the sandwiches. No cake. We must do nothing to imperil the coming
victory."

"You have a wonderful team, Jack, I hear," said her mother. "Come and
sit here beside me and tell me about them. Patricia has been keeping me
informed, but she is not very coherent at times. Of course, I know about
your wonderful goal keeper Findlay, is it not?" And the gentle little
lady kept a stream of conversation going, for she saw how deeply moved
Maitland was.