Silverside had had a hockey team, and had occasionally played a match, though it could not pride itself on its record of goals. The present prefects had never distinguished themselves remarkably at athletics, but they were sufficiently enthusiastic to wish the school to win successes. They called a boarders' meeting to discuss matters. "We ought to have a splendid games club this term," smiled Adah complacently. "There should be several sets of hockey going on in the same afternoon." "There isn't room in the field for more than one," ventured Laura Talbot. "Then we must take a larger field," decreed Consie. "With so many new subscriptions we can easily afford it." "Ninety-five girls instead of only thirty-six in a school make a difference," admitted Irma Ridley. "The treasurer will have quite a nice little sum in hand," chuckled Isobel Norris. "I want the school to begin and make a name for itself," said Adah. "I don't want to say anything against Jessie Carew and Maggie Stephens, last year, but really we all know they were slackers." "Silverside must buck up!" agreed the others. "You, Laura, and Janet, and Ethelberga have the makings of good players in you," murmured Adah reflectively, "and of course Consie and myself, and perhaps Joyce." "What about the Hawthorners?" asked Isobel. "We shall have to include them, of course." "Couldn't get up the teams without them, I'm afraid," sniggered Minnie Selburn. Adah stared hard at Minnie, who straightened her face and sat up stiffly. "In the matter of hockey, of course, everybody in the school, whether day girl or boarder, will be invited to join," continued Adah. "Some of those Hawthorners are jolly good," ventured Mona Bardsley. "They won ever so many matches last year, I believe," added Alice Webster. "Whom did they play?" asked Adah quickly. "I don't know." "I do," said Avelyn, speaking for the first time. "It was Workington Ladies' College, Mirton High School, Redlands County School, and Harlingden Ladies' Team, and they beat them all, except Harlingden, and that was a draw." Adah was rapidly scribbling some entries in her notebook. "We'll challenge Workington Ladies' College," she announced. "I wanted us to do it last year, but we decided our team wasn't strong enough. I'll write to their secretary to-night and make a fixture. It would be a tremendous triumph for Silverside to beat Workington. They've rather a reputation." "The old school's going to forge ahead!" smiled Consie. "We'll ask Miss Thompson to speak about hiring that larger field," said Isobel. "We'd better secure it at once, in case the farmer should let it to anybody else."