"Word-making," said Marian decisively. "Here's the box."
"Oh no!" exclaimed Nina and Hazel, "that's a stupid game. We don't like it at all."
"Yes, you do. Don't be silly. Come along."
"I vote for telegrams," suggested Linda.
"No!" cried Marian.
"Yes!" cried the others in such overwhelming majority that Marian had to give way, though she looked anything but pleased.
Pencils and pieces of paper were collected, the eight girls seated themselves round the table, and each set to work to concoct a telegram the words of which must commence with twelve letters read out at random, in the order in which they were given. The letters were: T, C, M, I, C, D, C, I, W, E, A, B. They proved a little puzzling to fit together, but after much nibbling of pencils, and knitting of brows, everybody managed to get something written, and Marian volunteered to read them out.
The first happened to be Sylvia's. She had put: "Tell Charley Mother ill. Cook dead. Come immediately. Will explain all. Bertha."
"It's not bad," said Marian condescendingly, "but you don't know how to spell. You've written C-h-a-r-l-e-y."
"Well, and that's the right way too!" said Sylvia.