Page:The secret play (1915).djvu/229

 "They may talk their silly heads off now," he said to himself, "and much good it will do 'em!"

It stopped raining at noon and the field, though by no means in perfect condition, was better than the day before and practice went very well. Bruises and strains were forgotten, and a little cold breeze that made itself felt in the afternoon and sent the heavy clouds scurrying southward put more spirit into the fellows. The Varsity had little difficulty in scoring once in each of the three periods of the game against the Scrubs, and the fellows showed possibilities of attack that were distinctly encouraging. The handful of spectators who braved the weather and watched practice were, in many cases unwillingly, impressed with the work of the Varsity.

The mass-meeting had been called for eight o'clock, and long before that hour the assembly hall on the upper floor of the school building was well-filled. The advent of some thirty-odd girls occasioned amusement and surprise, even, I regret to say, some ridicule. But Louise Brent and her following paid no heed to the expressions of the latter. The girls found seats together at one side of the hall and calmly awaited events. Most of the