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."