The girls, with the exception of Nora, obeyed her orders indifferently and as though under protest.

It was almost impossible to get every member to come to practice.

Some one of them invariably stayed away.

On one occasion she spoke rather sharply to the team about it, but her earnest words were received with sullen resentment.
"What is the use of working ourselves to death simply to have our game handed over to the enemy ?" one girl had muttered.
Grace colored at this thrust, but closed her lips tightly and made no reply.

But the attitude of her team worked upon her mind, and she lost confidence in herself.