Laura pulled out the over-full drawer and set it down upon the carpet.
“Oh, it isn’t there,” said Miss Carrington. “The packet was tied with a mauve ribbon—a narrow ribbon——”
Laura pulled out the next drawer.
“Oh, that’s quite useless,” exclaimed the lady teacher. “And to have everything disarranged in this way——”
“We must give the counsel for the defense every opportunity, Miss Carrington,” said the principal softly.
Laura drew out the third drawer—just glancing at the top layer of papers—and then the fourth and last. No bundle tied with a mauve ribbon appeared.
“Not there!” exclaimed Gee Gee, and was there a spice of satisfaction in her voice?
But Laura dropped upon her knees, ran her arm to the shoulder into the aperture where the last drawer came out, and drew forth the missing packet of papers, which lay crowded back upon the carpet.
“There!” said Mr. Sharp, quite in a matter-of-fact tone, “I have suggested to the Board of Education more than once that all these old unsanitary desks should be done away with. The only roll-top desk fit to use in the schools are those which stand upon feet, the bottom of the lower drawer being a few inches from the floor. Thank you, Miss Belding! We will now go on with the afternoon session.”
But he rested his hand for a moment upon Laura’s shoulder, as she was about to step down after returning the drawers to their places in the desk.