"Why should we? You boarders have taken up all the other societies, so you may have the hockey as well. We don't want to intrude on your privileges, thanks!" "But I say," blustered Adah, "you _must_ play! We've got to win matches and keep up the credit of the school." "Keep it up yourselves!" put in Gladys sarcastically. "You've rubbed it into us hard enough that it's only you who understand the school traditions, and we're nothing but outsiders!" "But you're keen on hockey! Surely you want to play?" Adah was making a desperate effort to curb her temper and be conciliatory. "Certainly we do, but we're going to have a club to ourselves." "You can't here!" "We don't mean to try. It's an 'Old Hawthorners' Club', and nothing to do with Silverside." "But you mustn't! You shan't go ratting like this!" exploded Adah, scarlet with indignation. "Don't get excited!" said Annie politely. "There's nothing to prevent us. Our Saturdays are our own, and nobody can compel us to come to school and play hockey if we don't want." "You miserable blighters!" "There! Keep a civil tongue, please. I thought the traditions of Silverside didn't run to slang. Perhaps you'd like to arrange a match with us: 'The Old Hawthorners' versus 'Silverside Boarders'? Gladys is our secretary, and will book it." "I shall do nothing of the sort!" choked Adah, beating as dignified a retreat as she could. It was certainly a terrible blow for the prefects. They had counted entirely on the strength of the day girls in arranging teams. To be deserted in this fashion meant the ruin of the hockey season. They were aghast at the bad news. "I wonder if Miss Thompson can refuse the larger field?" speculated Joyce. "We certainly can't afford to hire it with the subscriptions we've got," mourned Isobel. "And it's not the slightest use our trying a match with Workington, for we should only get a jolly good licking," announced Consie. "We don't want to court disaster." "I shall write to the secretary to-night," said Adah bitterly, "and tell her we've been obliged to make other arrangements. Those day girls are the absolute limit!" "Don't you think," ventured Isobel, "that perhaps you've been a little high-handed? If you'd tried to conciliate them, now----" "Conciliate!" echoed Adah scornfully. "Really, Isobel, what next? If you think I'm going to truckle to day girls, you're much mistaken." "I'm afraid we're making a good many mistakes," murmured Isobel, but too low for her friend to overhear her.