“Yes, ma’am. It’s all right.”
“I congratulate you both,” Miss Jewett said, “but we must not talk about this any more just now, for I know there are some very anxious girls here. I won’t keep them waiting a moment longer. The scholarship for the girls goes to Miss Elizabeth Hollins.”
“Oh!” Elizabeth could not refrain from an ecstatic exclamation. She clutched Betsy fiercely.
“Honorable mention is given to Betsy Tyson,” Miss Jewett went on. “The contest was very close, but Elizabeth came out a little ahead.”
A soft color suffused Betsy’s face and she cast down her eyes. How glad, how very glad she was of that little mark which made a figure one into a four.
Elizabeth flew home on wings of joy. It seemed to her as if her feet scarcely touched the earth. She rushed into the house pell-mell, crying out, “Where is mother? Where is Kathie? It’s mine! It’s mine!”
Electra appeared from the kitchen. “What’s all this to-do about?” she asked. “Your mother and Miss Kathie have both gone up to your Cousin Belle’s.”
Elizabeth did not wait for anything further, but was out of the door like a flash, and racing up the street as if running for a wager. They were all gathered on the porch when she reached the gray house, her mother, Kathie, cousin Belle, Grandpa Gil, Ruth and aunt Eunice. The presence of the last-mentioned did not dampen Elizabeth’s enthusiasm on this occasion, and she rushed into the midst of the group, throwing herself into her mother’s arms, crying: “I’ve got it! It’s mine! It’s mine!”
Aunt Eunice looked at her severely. “What is hers?” she asked Mrs. Gilmore.
“Is it the scholarship?” cried Kathie. “Oh, Elizabeth, have you really won it?”