She had made a desk for the two children by means of the ironing-board, which was a long and wide board, made very smooth on both sides.

This board Mary Erskine placed across two chairs, having previously laid two blocks of wood upon the chairs in a line with the back side of the board, in such a manner as to raise that side and to cause the board to slope forward like a desk.

She had placed two stools in front of this desk for seats.
Upon this desk, at one end of it, the end, namely, at which Bella was to sit, Mary Erskine had placed a small thin board which she found in the shop, and by the side of it a piece of chalk.

This small board and piece of chalk were to be used instead of a slate and pencil.
At Mary Bell's end of the desk there was a piece of paper and a pen, which Mary Erskine had taken out of her work-table.

By the side of the paper and pen was Bella's picture-book.