en in walked a
friend of Miss Linnet's, so he went home instead. The next morning he
started for school with the firm determination to be a good child, and I
really believe he would have been had not that provoking little witch
of a Daisy marched past him in a very independent manner, her saucy nose
away up in the air, and a scornful look in the pretty blue eyes. It was
more than flesh and blood could stand. All Tom's good resolutions flew
sky-high.

When twelve o'clock came Miss Linnet's list of delinquents begun in this
wise:

WHISPER MARKS. Thomas Brown..... 15
Melinda Jones..... 11

There was great excitement among the little people. How dared any one
be so dreadfully bad! Tommy's heart sank, sank, sank, when Miss Linnet
said: "When school begins this afternoon I shall punish Tommy and
Melinda."

And she did! She called them both up on the platform, made them clasp
hands and stand with their backs against the blackboard, then wrote just
above their heads:

Thomas Brown and Partners in disgrace.
Melinda Jones 15 plus 11 = 26.

Oh, how mortified and ashamed Tommy was! If only she had whipped him, or
if it had been some other girl. But MELINDA JONES!!! At the end of ten
minutes Miss Linnet let them take their seats; but Tommy's heart burned
within him. DAISY HAD LAUGHED WHEN HE STOOD THERE HOLDING MELINDA'S
HAND! There were deep crimson spots on Tommy's cheeks all that afternoon
and a resolute, determined look in his bright brown eyes, but he was
very still and quiet.

Later in the day the children were startled by a sudden commotion on
the other side of the room. Daisy was writing on her slate and Melinda
Jones, in passing to her seat, accidentally knocked it out of her hands;
without a moment's hesitation, Daisy, by way of expressing her feelings,
snatched her slate and promptly administered such a sounding "whack!"
on Melinda's back and shoulders as brought a shriek of anguish from that
poor, little unfortunate who began to think that if all the days of her
life were to be like unto this day, existence would certainly prove a
burden.

Just about two minutes later Miss Linnet was standing by her desk,
a ruler in one hand and Daisy's open palm in the other, while Daisy
herself, miserable little culprit, stood white and trembling before her.
As she raised the ruler to give the first blow, Tommy sprang forward,
placing himself at Daisy's side, put