Evelyn, who had also hurried over to help, held onto the ladder to stop it from swaying. Once Miss Pepperman stood safely on her two feet again, I climbed up a few rungs and placed the book in its designated spot.

While I did so, Miss Pepperman turned to Evelyn. “While I have you, I wanted to talk to you about the job!”

“What job?”

“This, of course. The library, everything.” She waved her hands about in a gesture that seemed to indicate the entire hall.

“I was wondering, since you have such a delightful passion for books and I don’t have as much time for this job as I would like to, if you would like to work here?”

“Really?”

“You would get paid, of course, and all you would have to do is sit here on a few evenings and hand out books to anyone who comes in. It’s a doozy, really!”

“That sounds good, Eve,” I said, landing back on my feet.

Miss Pepperman lightly touched my shoulder. “Of course I would also ask you, Seth, but Jasper told me that you’ve joined the drama club and I wouldn’t want to keep you from that.”

“It’s no problem. This is her thing, not mine.”

Miss Pepperman turned to Evelyn again. “What do you think, Evelyn? I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t in desperate need of some help around here. I don’t know if I should say this, but . . .”

Evelyn and I exchanged an intrigued look when Miss Pepperman’s rosy cheeks turned even redder. “What is it?”

“Well, I met someone,” she said—no, giggled. “He lives in Gloomswick and I would like to have some evenings off to spend some time with him, you see?”

“Of course,” Evelyn said. I bit back a grin. Of course Eve, ever the romantic, was immediately helplessly endeared, probably already envisioning a whole romantic film in her mind, all pastels and hazy lighting and harp music playing in the background. “I would love to work here.”

“Fantastic! When would you like to start?”

“Whenever you want me to. I don’t have any other afterschool activities.”

“How about tomorrow, if that isn’t too sudden? The lovely gentleman I’m seeing invited me to his house for a candlelight dinner.” She sighed, pressing a hand to her chest. “Isn’t that romantic? I feel like I’m sixteen again!”

Evelyn smiled. “I can be here tomorrow.”

“Thank you so much, Evelyn. I’ll leave you the keys, along with the instructions for the printers and the computers here on my desk. You just have to lock the door and turn the electronics off and that’s it! A piece of cake, right?”

“I’m sure I’ll manage. Thank you, Miss Pepperman.”

“No, thank you!” she exclaimed. Then she looked down at her bright red watch. “Oh, but it’s time for dinner already! I don’t want to keep you two any longer. Go on, off to the Great Hall with you.”

“Thanks again!” Evelyn said before we grabbed our things from the table and made our way into the Great Hall.