Marjorie’s heart warmed towards these girls—almost children themselves in comparison to herself. She told them gladly of her idea—that the troop dress some and take them to the hospital in person.
“Bring them next week!” Goldie pleaded, “and we’ll make all the others envious. Just you watch!”
Marjorie was only too delighted to promise that she would. Her one regret was that it was not Queenie who offered.
Marjorie did not bring the dolls to the next scout meeting as she had promised, for it was a scheduled game with Troop Eighteen. She knew that the girls who had offered to dress them would be too excited to think about it. She was correct; for both Dot and Goldie were already on the floor practicing when she arrived. She sauntered over towards them.
“Goldie,” she began, “how would you like to play this game instead of me?”
“Why not? You passed your second-class test on Wednesday night, and you are registered with the League.”
“You don’t get me, Captain. I’m not a good enough player, and besides, I couldn’t jump center. I’m not tall enough.”
“Oh, that’s all right,” Marjorie assured her. “You would play forward, as you have been practicing. Queenie would jump; you know Jack has been training her to substitute that position.”
Goldie’s eyes sparkled; there was nothing she would like better.
“Then it’s up to you. You’re the captain!”
“Very well, then, you play forward with Annie. Queenie and Dot will take care of the center, and your sister and Stella can guard. I think a line-up like that can give any team a good fight.”
Nor was she mistaken in her confidence; the girls, who now played with more assurance and less nervousness because of their recent victory, went into the game with all their energy, again trying to follow their coach’s instructions to the letter. This time there was no confusion, no foul play; the opposing troop played a clean game, but Troop Two Hundred carried off the honors because of their superior skill. Marjorie felt elated; all the more so because the girls had been able to accomplish it unaided by officers.
It was after the game was over, when they were together in the dressing room that Goldie suddenly thought of the dolls, and asked her captain whether she had brought them.