Page:Girls of Central High on the Stage.djvu/103

Rh this particular examination would be a trying one. Is that not a fact?"

"Yes, ma'am," admitted Jess.

"Miss Gould called me and I hastily thrust the papers, which I particularly told you were the question papers, into this drawer. Did I not?"

"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."