But she roused up directly after, and stood by my side, as I went down upon my knees by the bottom drawer, and tried to pull it out very gently, without making any noise, so as to get at the cord. For the key was in it all right when I came up, and I thought that I would leave it there, though I was all in a fidget for fear any one had been in and looked and seen the cord, while Patty was so curious that I dare not look to see; though if any one had taken it away, what should I have done? "Cree-ea-ea-ea-eak," went the drawer as soon as I pulled it, after the lock had shot back with a loud noise like a small pistol; and at this dreadful sound I stopped and turned cold all down my back; for I felt sure that the Fraulein would hear it. So there I knelt upon the floor, trembling like a leaf, and not daring to move; for Clara cried "Hush!" very loudly, and I'm sure I did not know what would come next. In fact, I almost expected to see the bedroom door open, and the Fraulein standing there. "You should have put some soap upon it," whispered Clara. "Yes, same as you did upon the basin," I said, viciously, and that silenced her; though I believe the mischievous thing was chuckling to herself all the while. At last, after five minutes had passed, which seemed like as many hours, everything was quite still, so I gave the drawer another pull. "Craw-aw-aw-aw-awk," it went, louder than before, and as if on purpose to annoy me; but I was so desperate that I gave the thing a horrible snatch, and pulled it out far enough, when I pushed in my hand and drew out the cord, hardly expecting to find it; but there it was, all right, and holding it tightly, I still knelt there trembling. "Er-tchisher--er-tchisher," came now, as loudly as possible, from Patty Smith's bed; and then we heard the tiresome thing turn on one side. We waited a little, and then I rose, and stood close to the door, waiting for Clara to join me; when if the stupid thing did not forget all about my open drawer, which I dare not attempt to close, and went blundering over it, making such a dreadful noise, that I rushed into bed and covered myself up; and, from the scuffling noise, I knew that she had done the same, for it was too dark to see. "Oh, my shins!" said Clara, in a whisper. Then I could hear her rubbing and laughing, not that I could see anything to laugh at; while if the Fraulein did not tap at the wall because we were so noisy, and with disappointment gnawing me, I knew that we must not stir for at least another half-hour, when it was quite late enough as it was.