“I can do it alone!” she said, petulantly; and, giving it a violent shove, she succeeded in moving it; but off fell several boxes which had stood upon it.
She stooped to pick them up, taking a mahogany box first; but its top had been broken by the fall, and as she raised it the bottom dropped out and its contents were strewn over the floor.
A paper tied with blue ribbon was among them.
Susan snatched it. It was the prize-composition!
Florence said not a word. She looked at her companion with a glance full of hatred.
Susan did not heed it. She was too full of joy at this opportunity of freeing herself from suspicion to think of any thing else.
For an instant that it was found filled her thoughts; but then arose the question, “How came it locked up in Florence’s possession?” and the answer flashed upon her.
“You hid it yourself, Florence!” she exclaimed, eagerly.
The girl still said not a word. She only looked at her accuser; but such a look! Susan shuddered.
“You were willing to lose the prize for the sake of injuring me!” she said. “Oh, how you must hate me!”