“I declare!” he said, with contrition. “I usually remember to pull down the shade.”
“Oh! the water is almost hot!” cried Laura, putting her hand in the bowl.
“Let me move that stand,” said the principal.
But Laura suddenly held up her hand with such a bright, yet amazed expression on her face, that the principal was startled.
“Please! Please, Mr. Sharp, send for John! Tell him to bring a pail of fresh water and the scoop net. Let him take the fish out of the water here. I have a—a tremendous idea.”
“What’s this? what’s this?” demanded the principal, with a puzzled smile. “One of your great ideas, Miss Belding.”
“Don’t make fun of me, sir,” cried the girl, earnestly. “It is the very greatest idea I ever had. And if it is a true idea, then it is bound to make a certain person the happiest girl in Centerport to-day!”
Mr. Sharp picked up the desk telephone and called the janitor. In five minutes the old man appeared and the struggling fish were scooped out of the water.
“Now, young lady?” demanded the principal.
“Let the bowl of water stand just as it does. See! Look at the ‘spot-light’ on the floor. Why, the oil in the floor fairly smokes! See! A great burning-glass!”