“But we must attend to our practice, Judith, this very afternoon I have called for a full team. We are to meet the girls of Breslin, and no personal worries must be allowed to interfere with the duties of our team. You know, Judy dear, no one is more anxious than I to have dear little Helen’s tangle straightened out, and I am going to it with all the wild and wooley in my make-up,” Jane almost smiled, but there was a qualified twist at her mouth corners, and such an effect had often been called an ingrowing smile, id est: A smile fraught with fury. “Oh, all right, Janey!” assented Judith. “I, like you, dear, am anxious to vanquish both foes, to wit: Breslin and Marian, but I am not so keen for practice. Janey, do you think I could work up a little water on the knee, or housemaid’s ankle, or something like that, just for this afternoon? I have the prospect of the loveliest hike—out to Blighty our poney England, you know. I would love to go, but, of course, if I must make baskets for the sophs——” “You really must, Judith. I will take no excuse positively. Besides, Judy dear, we are to have an audience this afternoon, and do you think I will stand for our team being minus our tall, striking, beautiful Junoesque——” “Perfect thirty-six! Halt! All right, Jane. I shall be on hand. Consider the bid accepted,” and Judith flounced out in mock pomp, her limited skirt confines yanked out, in comic imitation of the sweeping court costume. Basketball fever had set in with epidemic proportions. Every minute in the day available, or capable of being snatched, was occupied with the little blue book guaranteed to give all the rules, all the official information, all the strategic signals, and all the game of girls’ basketball, visionary and actual, the only omission noticeable being ball and basket. Last year’s uniforms of green were decided upon as an economic measure, the war price of wools, and the actual scarcity of such materials putting a ban on the commodities usually used in college athletic costumes. Jane had lined up her team, all pledged to run to the gym directly three thirty was dismissed. Grazia St Clair was one of the most promising forwards, and she had already proven her prowess. She could duck and dodge and sprint and “shoot a basket” while her companions of the team were extricating themselves from each others’ stockings. Judith occupied the critical position of standing center, and all her wisdom coupled with her indomitable push, earned the rather mystifying title of Towser. It was “get ’em, Towser!” and “shake ’em, Towser!” until Judith felt a peculiar interest in the very bones, inadvertently left on her dinner plate. It was to be expected that Marian Seaton would occupy a place on the opposition team within Wellington. After many difficult meetings and “pow-wows” it was finally “amicably” agreed that two teams be formed from the juniors and sophs. The coach and managers were from the senior lines as were the referee and umpire.