"Now the matter's thrashed out, let's talk about tennis," said Edith Arnold. "Do you know, Gwen Gascoyne, that you were elected one of our Form champions?" "Oh! oh!" gasped Gwen. "Yes, you and Hilda Browne were the pair chosen, and we look to you both to win the trophy." "You take net, then, Hilda, and I'll take back," suggested Gwen. "Netta was certainly very good at back-balls," began Minna Jennings, but Elspeth Frazer struck in immediately: "Let us please agree that Netta Goodwin's name is not mentioned again in this Form. She's best forgotten. I think Hilda and Gwen will work together splendidly. They must practise as much as they can before Friday." Thus forgiven and reinstated both by Miss Roscoe and the Form, Gwen felt she had at last started quite anew, with her bygones to be remembered only as danger signals for the future. Her elevation to the proud position of Form champion half elated and half weighed her down. It was an enormous responsibility to have to compete for the trophy, and she hoped her play would justify the girls' choice. Friday afternoon was to be given up to the match, the Forms allowed to take part being the Sixth, the Fifth, the Upper, Middle, and Lower Fourth, handicaps, of course, being arranged by the Committee. The event was one of the chief excitements of the term, and when Friday arrived the whole school turned out to act audience. The Fifth was drawn to play first with the Lower Fourth, and in spite of a heavy handicap scored an easy victory. "Not much triumph in beating those kids," remarked Gwen. "They're simply not in the running." "Our trials are all to come," agreed Hilda. "We're against the Upper Fourth now, and if we beat them, then we may expect our tussle with the Sixth." "I'm shaking in my shoes already!" "Don't make too sure; the Upper Fourth are better than the Lower, and need taking seriously. We may lose on this." "I think the handicap's too big," grumbled Gwen. As Hilda had prophesied, the Upper Fourth proved adversaries worthy of their skill. Eve Dawkins and Myra Johnson were both as old and nearly as tall as Gwen, and they played up with grim determination. At first the score went against the Fifth, and the spectators watched with keenest interest, but in the end Gwen's swift serving told, and Eve and Myra retired vanquished. The Middle Fourth had already been beaten by the Sixth, so it was now the Final between Sixth and Fifth. "When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug-of-war!" said Hilda. "I found a four-leaved clover this morning on the wold, and I've pinned it on to my dress as a mascot," returned Gwen. "May it bring us luck! though I believe in play more than in mascots. Keep as cool as you can, Gwen, and remember Olga's nasty balls." "I'll do my best, though I'm afraid you'll all rue choosing me for a champion," said Gwen, as she took her place.