"But one must begin some time to measure one's strength.

After the work we did last season, I certainly think you might risk it.

Nothing improves a team so much as playing plenty of matches; you see in time you get to know the strokes of everybody at the High, and you can calculate what others will do at certain turns of the game; it's far better for you to meet all sorts and conditions of opponents." Winona had been afraid it was rather "cheek" to challenge the "West Rytonshire Club" or "Oatlands College," but she ascertained that both those august bodies had two teams, Number 1 and Number 2, and that while the first only met foes worthy of their steel (or rather sticks!) the second would graciously condescend to play a yet unknown High School.
The match with Oatlands College was fixed for December 16th, and Winona looked forward to it with some anxiety.

The last practice had not been altogether satisfactory.

The day had been wretchedly cold, and everybody had been cross in consequence.