“You did.”
“And then I hurried out of the room without locking the drawer—without pulling down the roll top of the desk, indeed. Is that not so, Miss Morse?”
“It is,” said Jess, getting better control of her voice now.
“And you were left standing here. The other girls were gone. Now, Miss Morse, I freely admit that I am culpable in leaving such important papers in the way. I should have locked them up. I presume the temptation was great——”
“I beg your pardon, Miss Carrington!” exclaimed the girl, more indignant than frightened now. “You are accusing me without reason. I would not do such a thing——”
“Not ordinarily, perhaps,” interposed Miss Carrington. “But it all came to you in a moment, I presume. And you did not have time to put them back.”
This she had said in a low voice, so that nobody but Jess heard her. But the girl’s voice rose higher as she grew hysterical.
“Miss Carrington, you are unfair! I never touched them!”
“You must admit, Miss Morse, that circumstances are very much against you,” declared the teacher.
“I admit nothing of the kind. A dozen people might have been in the room while you were out and the desk was open. Ten minutes is a long time.”