"... And when Professor Trouville went to the Lab before breakfast this morning somebody had been there, breaking bottles, mixing specimens, and doing other acts of altogether stupid and unreasonable mischief. The door was as usual locked; the girl, whoever she was, had got in at the window by the steps, which Professor Trouville had for once left open. That being so, I quite exonerate the juniors; no girl under thirteen could scramble up to that window. Professor Trouville tells me that he has had trouble with several of the girls in Remove II. B; if any girl there has done this wrong and foolish thing, it is up to her to own it now--for the honour of a school which does not turn out cowards."
There was a thrilling pause, while Miss Conyngham's far-seeing eyes looked round expectantly, and the Professor stood just behind her, silent, watchful, impassive, with half-closed lids. Miss Conyngham seemed to have no doubt that somebody was going to speak--a little of the colour faded from her face and the light from her eyes, when there came only silence.
"I trust the girl who has done this thing to tell us now," she said.
Miss Conyngham's face grew a little stern. "If any girl here knows anything of the matter, though not herself responsible, I wish her to speak out."
Still silence. The Professor whispered something to Miss Conyngham; she shook her head, then spoke to the senior mistress present:
"Breakfast had better go on now, Miss Wrestow; I will deal with this matter later."
"What on earth is the matter?" Joey whispered, squeezing hastily into a place by Noreen. "Something happened to the Lab--what luck for you stinks people! You won't be able to do any."
Noreen was rather cross. "Don't be such a young silly; don't you see this is going to be a horrid plague for us? That old beast has put the Head on to Remove II. B just because he doesn't like me, I believe, and of course we're suspected. You heard what Miss Conyngham said."
"Somebody's got in and smashed some of his hateful old things there; _I_ should think the cat as likely as not; but of course he fastens it on to us. Just like him. As if I'd go and do a silly kid's trick like that!"
"Of course you wouldn't. It's a shame," comforted Joey. "But of course the Head would never think so. S'pose she just had to ask. When does he think we did it?"