'
Away he went, deaf to all his sister's shouts of 'Maurice, Maurice,'
and they went in, Ada not sorry to be unheard, as she was bent on the
grand exploit of lighting a lucifer match, but Phyllis still pleading
for the wafer. They found the schoolroom strewed with Maurice's
preparations for fireworks, and Emily's letter on the chimney-piece.
'Let us take the letter downstairs, and put on a wafer,' said
Phyllis. 'Won't you come, Ada?'
'No, the stamps are here, and so are the matches, I can do it
easily.'
'But Ada, Ada, it would be naughty. Only wait, and I will show you
such a pretty wafer that I know of in the drawing-room. I will run
and fetch it.'
Phyllis went, and Ada stood a few moments in doubt, looking at the
letter. The recollection of duty was not strong enough to balance
the temptation, and she took up a match and drew it along the
sandpaper. It did not light--a second pull, and the flame appeared
more suddenly than she had expected, while at the same moment the
lock of the door turned, and fancying it was Maurice, she started,
and dropped the match. Phyllis opened the door, heard a loud
explosion and a scream, saw a bright flash and a cloud of smoke.
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