So Mollie set to work to write out a speech, and they all tried to help her, and after a lot of trials and a few fights they managed one.
“Let’s hear it,” said Eileen, and they sat down while Mollie read aloud.
Dear Miss Gibson,
Your six pupils wish you to take the enclosed money as a little present, because we are sorry that you were once rich and lost so much money, and hope you will soon be rich again, and that you will always be very happy.
YOUR FOND PUPILS.
“That’s all right,” said Eileen.
“No, there’s another word for ‘take,’” said Willie; “it would sound better. Let’s see, what is it now?—oh, I know!—‘except’—yes, except the money.”
“No, not ‘except,’” said Mollie. “‘Accept,’ I think.”
“Anyhow, there’s only the difference of a letter or two,” answered Willie, “and it sounds better. Put one of them in and chance it.”
“Oh, no! we’ll have to look it up and make sure,” said Mollie with a sigh, “and if there’s anything I do hate doing it’s looking up a dictionary.”
“Oh, bother the dictionary—I hate ’em, too!” said Willie.
“And so do I,” agreed Eileen; “but we’ll have to look for it.”