"I have been but little in," said Ninian hastily...

Can anyone explain why, when I am searching for my tax return from 2010, I spend two weeks turning over the same half-dozen crates of papers again and again without success, and only at the end of that time, at quarter to 1 in the morning, does it occur to me to check the box that I specifically call the "important documents drawer"?

No, nor can I.