May I help her to find it ?" Then Jeremy's head would disappear.

There would follow giggles, whispers, again giggles; then from the cupboard a book tumbles, then another, then another.

Then Miss Jones would say: "Now, Jeremy, come back to the table.

You've had quite enough time--" interrupted by a perfect avalanche of books.

Mary crying: "Oh, Jeremy!" Jeremy crying: "I didn't; it was you!" Miss Jones: "Now, children--" Then Jeremy, very politely: "Please, Miss Jones, may I help Mary to pick the books up?
There are rather a lot." Then, both on their knees, more whispers and giggles.
Miss Jones, her voice trembling: "Children, I really insist--" And more books dropped, and more whispers and more protests, and so on ad infinitum.