Marjorie did not bring the dolls to the next 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?”
 
The girl fairly in .
 
“Oh, I never could, Miss Wilkinson!”
 
“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 has been training her to substitute that position.”
 
Goldie’s eyes sparkled; there was nothing she would like better.
 
“But what would your brother say?”
 
“It was he who suggested it.”
 
“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 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 room that Goldie suddenly thought of the dolls, and asked her captain whether she had brought them.
 
“No,” replied Marjorie, “for two reasons. First, I didn’t think that tonight would be a good time to distribute them, on account of carrying them home, but principally because there are fifteen little girls in the , and I wouldn’t want to take them for180 some and not for all. And you and Dot and I couldn’t possibly dress five dolls apiece.”
 
“Oh, I’ll help!” cried Sophia, who was in the mood to agree to anything anyone asked.
 
“We’ll all do it, Miss Wilkinson,” muttered Queenie, not too pleasantly.
 
“Not unless you really want to,” Marjorie .
 
“All right, we want to, then. Bring ’em next week.”
 
As soon as Marjorie was with John again, she told him of their expressions of willingness, which, she had to admit, seemed rather reluctant.
 
“All right—I didn’t expect they’d enthuse over sewing. Most girls don’t. Look at the jokes in the paper about the married men who have to sew their own buttons on!”
 
“I never cared for it much myself,” remarked Marjorie.
 
“Trying to scare me?” he inquired jokingly, but was rewarded with a look.
 
“I had no idea that they would be interested,” he continued, “until they actually pay a visit to the hospital. Only, by the way—mother had a suggestion to offer. She wants to supply the goods—what do you call ’em?—remnants?—and lace and ribbons to make the dresses, and said she’d be glad to offer a prize—a handbag, or something—to the girl who dresses the prettiest one.”
 
“That’s a great idea, John!” exclaimed Marjorie. “My word, you are a help to our troop!”
 
“As much as Mr. Richards?” he asked slyly.
 
“Almost,” Marjorie conceded.
 
At the very next meeting she made an opportunity to put his plans into action and found them more successful then she had dared to hope. The dolls were little French toys; their pretty faces made a appeal to all of the girls. Moreover, the materials which Mrs. Hadley had sent were so dainty and charming, that it made them actually want to sew.
 
While they were thus busily engaged, talking at the same time about the prize that was offered, Mr. Richards dropped in.
 
“No interest in second-class tests tonight, I can see that!” he joked in his pleasant, breezy manner, which was so attractive to the girls. “I guess this is no place for a man!”
 
“Then we’ll quit!” announced Queenie, glad in her heart of an excuse to stop. “We can practice signalling——”
 
The scout master raised his hand forbiddingly.
 
“Nothing doing!” he asserted. “When I get married I want a girl............