She determined to look through the contents of the little cabinet with method, and she resolved to begin with the large centre drawer.

She pulled it open, and was surprised to find that it was nearly empty.
A few papers, on which verses and quotations from Books of Sermons were copied in her mother's hand-writing, lay about; these, and one parcel which was carefully wrapped up in soft white tissue-paper, were the sole contents of the centre drawer.

Primrose pulled the parcel from where it lay half-hidden at the back of the drawer.

She felt self-possessed, but her fingers trembled slightly as she touched it.
It was folded up most carefully--the wrappings were kept in their place by white satin ribbon, and on a slip of white paper which had been placed on the top of the parcel, and secured by the ribbon, Primrose read a few words: "Arthur's little desk--for Primrose now." She felt her color coming high, and her heart beating.

Who was Arthur ?--she had never heard of him--her father's name had been John.
Who was the unknown Arthur, whose desk was now given to her?
She untied the parcel slowly, but with shaking fingers.
The little desk was a battered one, ink-stained, and of a slight and cheap construction.