Electra, still smarting under the sting of Miss Baylis’ sarcasm rose hastily, and with her as hastily rose Petty’s foot to a horizontal position, encountering in its ascent the rung of Electra’s chair and toppling it over with a crash.
CHAPTER XIII
CULINARY EXPERIMENTS
Most of the girls gave vent to startled exclamations, but Miss Baylis was speechless with rage. Electra turned and twisted in her frantic endeavors to discover the origin of the upheaval, and Petty made a mad scramble for her history book which the sudden jerk had sent flying out of her hands, the sentimental missive fluttering from its hiding place to drop at Beverly’s feet. Stooping hastily, Beverly caught it up unnoticed in the greater confusion, though she could not help seeing “Darling little sweetheart,” in a large immature hand at the heading. With a scarcely repressed laugh she hid it in her book, and turned to face the storm center, Miss Baylis.
“Who is responsible for this folly?” demanded the irate one.
“I wish an answer,” reiterated Miss Baylis, turning to Beverly who sat near Petty. “Is this your idea of a joke?”
“Not exactly, Miss Baylis.”