"Oh jubilate! Just look here! This came only five minutes before I started. Isn't it ripping?"
"You don't mean to say we've won the prize?" gasped Maggie Orton.
"No—not the prize! But we've got something. Quite enough to cock-a-doodle about. Here, read what they say!"
A cluster of heads immediately collected over the letter. It was typed, and appeared strictly businesslike. It ran thus:—
"60 King Street,
Kirkton."Dear Madam,
"We are in receipt of your verses in respect of our competition for advertising our brand of tea. Though they do not attain the level of first prize offered, they are not bad on the whole, and we think we might be able to use them. We are therefore willing to give you £1, 5s. for the three, and would add a further 15s. for the Christmas-card verses and cracker mottoes, making £2 for the lot. We retain your verses pending your consideration of this offer, and will forward cheque and copyright agreement should you accept it.
"Yours faithfully,
"Jones & Jackson, Ltd."
The successful authoresses turned to one another with almost incredulous delight, and broke into open rejoicings.
"Goody! How stunning!"
"Accept it? Ra-ther!"
"Hi-cockalorum! We're in luck!"