“But we’re not the least inclined to give in,” said Lalage.
“Don’t,” I said. “Keep on pelting the editors with articles. Some day one of them will be away from home and an inexperienced subordinate——”
“That would be no use,” said Hilda.
“What we have determined to do,” said Lalage, “is to start a paper of our own.”
“It ought,” I said, “to be a huge success.”
“I’m glad you agree with us there,” said Lalage. “We’ve gone into the matter minutely. Selby-Harrison worked it out and we don’t see how we could possibly make less than 12 per cent. Not that we want to make money out of it. Our efforts are purely—what’s that word, Hilda? You found it in a book, but I always forget it.”
“Altruistic,” said Hilda.
“You understand that, I suppose?” said Lalage to me.
“Yes,” I said, “I do. But I wasn’t thinking of the financial side of the enterprise when I spoke of its being an immense success. What I had in mind——”
“Finance,” said Lalage severely, “cannot possibly be ignored.”