“They are all for Mary but one, and that is for Lucy,” said Henry.
“Then cousin Mary is president,” said James, clapping his hands.
“Yes,” said Mary, “it seems you have chosen me president; and I will be president for a time, until I think that some of the rest of you have learned how to preside, and then I shall resign, and leave you to manage your society yourselves. Now you must write the votes for secretary.” So Mary took her seat in the chair which she had provided for the president, and which, until this time, had been empty.
So the children began to write votes again, and as fast as they had written them they brought them to Mary, and dropped them in her lap. As soon as each one had put in his vote, he went back and took his seat. When the votes were all in, Mary looked them over, and said,
“There are two votes for Lucy, and one for Rollo, and one for Henry.”
“Then Lucy is chosen secretary,” said James.
“No,” said Mary, “because she has only half. The person that is chosen must have more than half of all the votes. Lucy has two, and there are two scattering.”
“Scattering!” said Rollo, looking somewhat puzzled.