don't," said Jack, but as Miss Gilman touched her bell just at this
moment, Jack was obliged to wait for an opportunity to address his cousin
by her full name.

As the scholars were taking their places in the seats which had been
assigned them, Molly Wilson entered, looking very pretty in a gown of a
dark, rich red and a pair of new boots which squeaked with every step.

"Her new dress is just like yours," whispered Dot Marvin to Randy, but
Randy, whose cheeks were suddenly very pink, seemed not to have heard, and
Dot was obliged to be contented with looking from Molly's dress to Randy's
and wondering how it happened that they chanced to be alike.

The scholars from the youngest to the oldest were loud in their praise of
the new school, and delighted that Miss Gilman was again their faithful
teacher, but in the merry throng there was one who found it difficult to
be content, and that was Phoebe Small. That the schoolroom was warm and
cheerful, that there was plenty of room, and ample opportunity for study
counted for little since she had set her heart upon going to boarding
school, and therefore an ordinary day school seemed a very tame affair.

At recess she confided to Dot Marvin that she didn't see why ma couldn't
approve of having her daughter at a boarding school since she (Mrs. Small)
attended one when she was a girl.

"I'd 'nough sight rather be at home," drawled Dot, "even with my cousin
Jack to tease me. When he goes a little too far I can hit back by teasing
him 'bout the Langham twins. That always stops him. But Phoebe," she
continued, "I shouldn't think you would like to go away to school. They'd
all be strangers and seems to me you'd be lonesome and homesick."

"That's what ma said, but I wanted to try it. I can't, it seems, so I've
got to stay here and try to think I like it," said Phoebe, with an
expression upon her face of extreme dissatisfaction.

In another part of the yard an animated conversation of quite a different
character was in progress. Little Hi Babson and Prue Weston were swinging
upon the gate.

"Why how naughty," Prue was saying. "I shouldn't a thought you'd dare to."

"Well, I did," Hi answered. "I didn't want ter come ter school, so ter pay
'em fer makin' me, I hid the clock key so they can't wind the clock. I
dropped it inter the m'lasses jug, 'n' I guess to-morrer mornin' they
won't know what time ter send me ter school.

"I've took the basket er clothes-pins and lowered 'em