"Quite ready?"

"Yes, Miss Drake."

The Duck smiled her prettiest, most approving smile.

"Good girl! I like punctuality. Bring it up to me now, please, in my
sitting-room."

"Yes, Miss Drake."

Up the stairs ran Dreda, light of foot, bright of eye, heart beating
high with happiness, into the bare empty schoolroom, where the windows
stood open and the fire smouldered on the grate. She switched on the
electric light, crossed the floor to her own desk, and threw open the
lid. Stupid! She had imagined that she had left the manuscript book on
top ... How came she to be mistaken in so strong an impression?

... She lifted a pile of exercise sheets, pushed the books aside, and
scattered miscellaneous possessions to right and to left. Her eyes
distended as if about to fall from her head. She sank back on a chair
and gazed stupidly before her. The synopsis had disappeared!

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

The synopsis had disappeared! Incredible though it seemed, it was but
too true. For the first few minutes Dreda was too much stunned to move
from her seat, but presently with a painful effort after self-
possession, she arose, and began hastily lifting the contents of the
desk, and dropping them one by one on the floor. In this way it seemed
impossible to overlook anything, but still no sign of the shining black
cover met her sight. She scooped everything together with impatient
fingers, pushed them back into the desk, and ran breathlessly into the
study.

The girls were amusing themselves in various fashions after the fatigues
of "prep.," but one and all looked round with expressions of
astonishment at the violent opening of the door which heralded the
unexpected appearance of the sub-editor, white-cheeked, and tragic of
demeanour.

"What in the world's the matter?"

"The list! The synopsis! It's gone! It was in my desk. Miss Drake
sent me for it. She is waiting for me now, and it's _gone_: I can't
find it. Has anyone moved it? Does anyone know where it's gone?"

The girls' faces lengthened; there was a moment's tense silence, then
everyone spoke at once.

"_Dreda_! How dreadful! Are you _sure_? In your desk? No one would
take it out of your desk!"

"Dreda! You are _always_ mislaying your things. You have put it
somewhere else. _Think_! Remember your keys! You vowed you had put
them in your glove drawer, and they were found in the box with your best
hat."

"Have you been upstairs to