She noticed that it consisted of the basketball team and its substitutes.

They were all there except Miriam.
"If you have any secrets, girls," remarked Grace in a hurt tone, "please postpone the telling of them for a few minutes.

I am going, directly." She opened her locker and drew out her coat and hat, trying to hide the tears that filled her eyes.
Then Marian Barber impatiently took the envelope from Eva and stepped forward.

She had made up her mind to get the whole thing over as rapidly as she could.
"Er--Grace," she said, clearing her throat, "er--the team has----" "Well, what is it ?" exclaimed Nora, irritated beyond her power of endurance.

"Why don't you speak out, instead of stuttering in that fashion?
I always did detest stuttering." "Marian has a note for you, Grace," interposed one of the substitutes growing bolder.
Marian placed the note in Grace's hand and turned slowly away.