They all sat silently for a few moments, scribbling, or nibbling, at their pencils.
“It’s harder than I thought,” confessed Patty. “I can’t think of a thing that rhymes and makes sense both.”
At last the lines were done, and given over to the judges.
“We’ve decided,” said Nan, soon after. “But we’ll read first the ones that did not win the prize. They’re all awfully good, I think. Here’s Patty’s first; shall I read the four lines?”
“No, we all know those; just read the fifth.”
“Very well, this is it. ‘She said, not when they say “write a pome!”’”
“That’s capital. Are the others better?”
“Some are,” said Nan, going on. “Here’s Floyd Austin’s; ‘She said, “Well,—I have bought a pearl comb.”’”
“Oh, I think that’s good,” cried Patty, “I’d give that the prize. Go on, Nan, this is fun.”