The three walked down the path to the gate, and, soon after they reached the street, they were joined by several others, also schoolward bound. Marjorie's spirits rose, as she chatted with the merry young people; and as they passed the Fulton house, and Dick and Gladys came out, Marjorie was so glad to see her friend that she was at once her own happy, merry little self again. Miss Lawrence's room was one of the pleasantest in the big brick building. When Marjorie and Gladys presented themselves at her desk, and asked if they might sit together, the teacher hesitated. She wanted to grant the request of the little girls, but they had been in her class the year before, and she well knew their propensities for mischief. "Oh, please, Miss Lawrence!" begged Marjorie; and, "Oh, do say yes!" pleaded Gladys. It was hard to resist the little coaxers, and Miss Lawrence at last consented. "But," she said, "you may sit at the same desk only so long as you behave well. If you cut up naughty pranks, I shall separate you for the rest of the term." "We won't!" "We will be good!" cried the two children, and they ran happily away to their desk. Each desk was arranged for two occupants, and both Marjorie and Gladys enjoyed putting their things away neatly, and keeping them in good order. They never spilled ink, or kept their papers helter-skelter, and but for their mischievous ways, would have been model pupils indeed. "Let's be real good all the term, Gladys," said Midget, who was still under the influence of her mother's parting words. "Let's try not to cut up tricks, or do anything bad." "All right, Mopsy. But you mustn't make me laugh in school. It's when you begin to do funny things that I seem to follow on." "Well, I won't. I'll be as good as a little white mouse. But if I'm a mouse, I'll nibble your things." Down went Marjorie's curly head like a flash, and when it came up again, Gladys' new penholder was between her teeth, and the "mouse" was vigorously nibbling it. "Stop that, Mops! I think you're real mean! That's my new penholder, and now you've spoiled it." "So I have! Honest, Gladys, I didn't think the dents would show so. I was just playing mouse, you know. Here, I'll change, and give you mine. It's new, too." "No, I won't take it." "Yes, you will; you must. I'm awfully sorry I chewed yours." Poor little Midget! She was always impulsively getting into mischief, but she was always sorry, and generously anxious to make amends. So Gladys took Marjorie's penholder, and Mopsy had the nibbled one. She didn't like it a bit, for she liked to have her things in good order, but she said to Gladys: "Perhaps it will make me remember to be good in school. Oh, s'pose I'd played mouse in school hours!" "Keep still," said Gladys, "the bell has rung." The morning passed pleasantly enough, for there were no lessons on the first day of school. Books were distributed, and class records were made, and lessons given out for next day.