"I've messed up my quilt taking it on the roof, and Matron says it's a disgrace and ought to make me ashamed every time I go to bed. And I've starred a window, so it had to be mended; and I've got into a row with the Head for arriving home alone, and with Professor Trouville for tidying his old Lab----" "That was my fault!" interrupted Noreen. "And been turned out of French class once--but Maddy was fearfully decent after--and out of maths class twice for ragging...." "I begin to feel quite anxious," Miss Craigie said tranquilly; but even Joey understood the truth of Noreen's statement, that there was no ragging when Miss Craigie taught. With Noreen squeezing her arm affectionately on one side and Joey holding rather shyly to the other, Miss Craigie walked the two miles to Redlands, hearing much school news and asking many questions, in especial about the prospects of the big hockey match, Redlands _v._ Lincolnshire Ladies, which was always played towards the end of October. "It's to be at Deeping Royal this year," Gabrielle said. "It was the Lincs Ladies' turn to choose, you see." "Selfish pigs, they might have chosen somewhere nearer. Nine miles off; why, hardly any of us will be able to go and look on," grumbled Noreen. "I think you will find that a certain number will go by train," Miss Craigie said in her quiet way. "You ought to be a poet, Noreen--you do love to magnify a grievance." Noreen joined in the laugh against herself; she was always ready to do that. "Well, I don't magnify the Stinks Professor, anyway, Miss Craigie; he has grown into such an ill-tempered beast, hasn't he, Gabby?" Miss Craigie shook her head. "Unparliamentary language, Noreen; stop it, please." Noreen stopped quite meekly--rather to Joey's disappointment. She would have liked to consult Miss Craigie about the Professor and his ways; however, if he wasn't to be talked about there was an end of it. She asked instead where Deeping Royal was. "Away beyond the big reservoir--much nearer the Fossdyke Wash than we are," Noreen explained. "Gorgeous fields, if it's fine--but--when it's wet--Help! I wish they would play us at Redlands--we're always all right." "And who will be allowed to go besides the Team?" Joey next asked anxiously. "Oh, when we play outside and have to drive or go by train, each member of the Team can take a friend, and the Heads of the Upper and Lower School can take two. You'll take us, won't you, Gabrielle?" Noreen demanded breathlessly. Joey gasped at the audacity of this suggestion, but Gabrielle answered composedly. "You were the two I meant to ask, _of course_." Joey walked the rest of the way back treading on air, and refrained from swanking aggressively to either Gabrielle or Noreen when Miss Craigie invited her to come and help unpack after tea. Afterwards, when several very big things had happened, she looked back on that blissful afternoon, and saw the result of that threefold friendship. CHAPTER XIV