these questions raced through Diana's brain, and, as the quickest
way to solve them, she jumped up, fumbled in the dark for her bedroom
slippers and dressing-gown, and hurried after Loveday. She could see by
the glimmer of light that the candle was going downstairs. She followed,
flopping along in her woollen slippers, for she had not had time to draw
them on properly. She nearly lost one on the landing, and had to stop.
When she reached the hall the light had gone into the seniors' room.
Diana walked softly, and peeped cautiously in. She had rather an idea of
saying "Boo!" suddenly, and giving Loveday a scare, but she wanted to
reconnoitre first. Her friend's back was turned towards her; she was
bending over a desk, not her own desk, but Hilary's. She quickly drew
out a roll of manuscript, tore it across and across, carried it to the
fire-place, put it inside the grate, and applied the candle. Diana,
standing in the dark outside the doorway, watched her in utter
amazement. So many questions began to rush into her mind that the hall
did not seem the best place to answer them. She fled upstairs again,
jumped into bed, and lay thinking. In a minute or two Loveday came
quietly back, blew out the candle at the door, and, treading softly,
also went to bed. Diana did not speak, or betray by any movement that
she was awake. It was an hour, however, before sleep came to her. She
was on the early practising list, so she went downstairs next morning
before her room-mate was stirring.

Breakfast passed over as usual; the post-bag came in; Miss Todd sorted
and distributed the contents, and the girls retired to read their
letters. At ten minutes to nine something happened. Hilary, with wide
open eyes and flushed cheeks, came running along the hall.

"Somebody's gone and taken my essay out of my desk!" she declared
excitedly.

Her fellow-seniors wrenched their thoughts from home news.

"Impossible!" said Geraldine.

"You've misplaced it!" said Stuart.

"No, I haven't! I know just where I put it yesterday."

"Go and look again!"

"I've turned the whole desk out, I tell you, and it simply isn't there!"

"Where is it, then?"

"That's what I want to know!"

"Has anyone taken it for a joke?"

"I expect so, but I'll reckon with whoever has!"

"It's probably one of those intermediates," suggested Stuart.

"Anybody who's got it must just turn it up at once!" said Geraldine
grimly. "We can't allow this sort of thing to happe