Life went on in such a rush! It always did, but that was half the fun
now, Betty thought. At home little was demanded of her except the
regular little duties, given to each of the children and expected more
by their father than their mother, though for her benefit.
Athletics started off with a boom, pep meetings, the new football team
on the platform, the organization of the girls' teams, all sorts of
try-outs and some scheming. Alas, the seniors who had been on last
year's champion football team left such a hole that it was hard to fill
with material good enough to make a winning team. And oh, how sad it was
when a series of defeats made the championship out of the question for
Lyon High. At least they must beat the Eagles, and the coach tried to
prepare them for that almost final game. But no! Betty, who sat beside
Louise Madison, loyal enough to see the great game of the year by her
beloved high school, and they shook their heads sadly at each other as
the time passed first with no score at all on either side for the first
half, then with the Lions unable to "hold them" and the Eagles scoring
both by forward passes and "straight football." It was awful, Louise
said, but "Maybe the Lions have it coming to them," said Louise. "And it
isn't good for a high school to get too cocky. We've got about all the
cups there are--so let the Eagle scream this time!"
It was so romantic! Here was Ted again, coming around to talk to Louise,
and Louise, more flirtatious and self-conscious than she had been before
University days, being just as charming as she could. But Ted paid just
as much attention to Betty and was as gallant as ever to both of the
girls. Lucia, also, came in for her share of attention, as she sat next
to Betty in the big stadium and heard all the comments with the greatest
interest or amusement as the case may be.
"Oh, your football is so exciting," she said. "It makes me think of the
bull fights in Spain!"
"Yes, and you used to have thumbs down in your Roman theatres, too,"
mischievously added Ted.
"We have a big picture of the Coliseum at home," said Peggy, behind
Lucia, and Lucia turned to give Peggy a glance of amusement.
"We had lions, then," she added.
"Lions, rah!" said Ted Dorrance, but the tiresome last plays were on
now. Time was nearly up and there was no hope for the Lions, even if
they should score. Lyon High rooters began to rise, wearily, and gather
up rugs, cushions or newspapers to take their departure.
This game took place just a week before the final hockey matches between
the classes. Lucia and Mathilde had "made" the hockey team. Betty had
been hurt a little in the try-out, and Peggy insisted that Mathilde did
it on purpose, but Betty refused to believe it and played happily on
what they themselves called the "scrub team," the team which played with
its own team to prepare them for the contest, also to have able material
on hand in case it was necessary or best to put in substitutes. Betty
was always keen about whatever game she played, but she really cared for
excellence in its proper sense only in swimming.
"Don't worry, Kathryn," she said to Gypsy. "Whether Mathilde intended
that or not doesn't matter, I'll watch after this and somebody has to be
on the second team, so why shouldn't it be I? Moreover, I had everything
to learn about hockey, after all, and I think Mathilde has played."
"She said she has, but I don't believe it. There's favoritism. Mathilde
for some reason stands in with one of the athletic teachers and I saw
her talking with the others that day. I'm not going to tell you who she
is, though. Do you mind?"
"I'd rather not know, though of course I'm curious. Tell me after the
match!"
But all things considered, Betty began to want to do well. "Let's beat
the first team, girls," she said to her girls just before the last
practice game, and beat the first team they did, though scolded for it.
"Now don't let the fact that the second team beat you discourage you at
all, girls," said the athletic teacher who had watched the game. "It was
a close game and let it make you all the more careful against the other
teams in your class contest. I'm not favoring one team more than
another; but I want to encourage every one to do its very best."
"The freshman team hasn't had enough practice," said Carolyn in the gym
before the games. The girls were putting on their customary equipment
and donning sweaters, for it was cold though clear outside, with the
ground hard, yet free from snow. Unless it rained, the climate in which
Lyon High rejoiced was good for outdoor sports almost until Christmas.
"So I think that the freshmen will be out of it and the juniors and
sophomores play against each other at the last. The seniors are too sure
and they have some weak material. I've been watching their practice
games."
Carolyn was not playing, but "terribly interested," she said. Many
sophomore rooters were on hand when the games were played, and sure
enough, it was the juniors against the sophomores at the last. Mathilde
was hit by one of the hockey sticks early in the games and Betty took
her place, much to Mathilde's discomfiture. Her "hated rival" played
along with the daughter of a countess, whose friendship Mathilde so much
wanted to have for herself, and only for herself.
"Good, Betty," said Lucia, when Betty was put in. "I'm sorry for
Mathilde, but she makes so many wild plays and isn't quick enough. Now
let's beat the juniors all to pieces, as you girls say!"
Fast and furiously went the game. The juniors expected to win, yet they
were never taken unaware. It was a fair and excellent game, the athletic
directors said, yet the sophomores did win and Lucia threw her arms
around Betty after it was over. "I'm going to tell my uncle how you
played, Betty!" she exclaimed. "I wanted Mother to come and see me do
something, but she wouldn't. She only hoped I wouldn't get hurt and it
wouldn't turn out like the hike! How's that for a mother that came over
here on purpose to make an American out of me?"
"Did she, honestly, Lucia," asked Betty, hugging Lucia in return.
"Of course she did and I like it now, only I shall always want my
father, too."
"Well, you write him that you were 'the noblest Roman of them all,'
according to me, and I _know_!"
"I will, Betty," and Lucia's smile was a happy one. "Come on," said she,
"let's go and comfort poor Mathilde."
"That is dear of you, Lucia, and I would, only it would look too much
like crowing over her because I was put in in her place. Besides, she'd
be happier anyway for you to think of her--by yourself."
Lucia's dark eyes surveyed Betty thoughtfully. "You always think of
everything, Betty. How do you do it? I like you, Betty Lee!" and Lucia
turned to find Mathilde, who was limping away with a small group of
sophomores.
"You're pretty nice, yourself, Lucia," Betty sent after her, and Lucia
waved a deprecatory hand.