Louder it grew and louder, as girls came pouring in from their different classrooms.
"What _can_ be happening?" Miss Lambton interrupted herself to ask.
The three sinners took the question for a signal of dismissal. They ran.
A great throng of girls, growing larger every moment, was congregated in the hall, cheering wildly. Squeezing past smaller girls, and under the elbows of seniors, Joey arrived somehow in the front rank.
A large notice faced her--a notice on which the ink was hardly dry:
"In consequence of information received, Miss Conyngham withdraws the ban on Redlands."
Joey was up next morning with a punctuality that highly exasperated the other occupants of Blue Dorm. But in the face of so much excitement, she would have found it almost impossible to stay in bed, even if she had not wanted to telephone to Cousin Greta before breakfast, to ask if after all she might go to her on Sunday.
Miss Conyngham had given gracious permission for the use of the 'phone overnight, and if Joey was to be at the Lab at 12, she would not have a minute to spare, most likely, till the match was over. And this was Saturday.
She leaned far out of her window first thing to see if the weather was smiling on the all-important match. It was quite fine and clear, with a sky that looked a long way off slightly flecked with fine mares' tails, and a sea that seemed comparatively near, lying silver grey on the luminous horizon.
"Oh, get back to bed," groaned Noreen, from half under the bedclothes; but Joey got up, all the same, and dashed downstairs to the 'phone.
The housemaids had just finished with Miss Conyngham's room and were sweeping the hall; Joey shut the door to get away from the dust and noise, and asked for Colonel Sturt's number at the Exchange.
She got it; but it was an unfamiliar voice that answered her:
"Her ladyship is not yet down, and cannot be disturbed."
"Is anybody?" Joey asked, hoping sincerely that she would not be obliged to talk to Colonel Sturt.
"Mr. John is, miss; would you wish to speak to him?"
"Please," Joey said, relieved; and a minute later heard the heavy thump of crutches, and a decorous voice saying, "A young lady to speak to you, sir."
Joey squeezed the receiver vigorously. "That you, John? It's Joey speaking. Can you really walk about now? How topping!"