brother and
sister, Twaddles and Dot."

"Dorothy, I suppose," amended Miss Mason, who could never bear to use
a nickname, no matter how pretty. "But where on earth did a child get
the name of Twaddles?"

"His right name is Arthur Gifford Blossom," explained Meg timidly.

The twins were sitting down comfortably on the edge of the platform
and studying the room with interest.

"Well, Margaret, I think you will have to take them home," said
Miss Mason, not unkindly. "It lacks only fifteen minutes of
dismissal time, anyway. I shall let the girls go at half-past
three, but the boys will have to remain till we get this matter of
the defaced book straightened out. Go and get your hat and coat,
Margaret."

Meg went to the cloak room for her hat and coat and came back to find
Miss Mason saying good-by to the twins.

"And when you are six years old we'll be very glad to have you come to
school," she told them. "Don't forget the doll--all right, now you're
ready."

She held open the door for Philip, and even patted him on the head as
he trotted through. The irrepressible twins, who had enjoyed their
visit and were sorry to have it over so soon, turned as they were
following Meg out of the room.

"Good-by, Bobby," they chorused.

Poor Bobby blushed violently, and the other children laughed.

"You shouldn't talk like that," Meg reproved them as she piloted
them down the hall. "You can't holler out loud in school."

"Isn't it nice?" said Dot admiringly. "Oh, Meg, what's this room?"

She had darted to the open door of the assembly hall and was peering
in at the rows and rows of empty seats.

"Come on," urged Meg. "Don't snoop around like that, Dot. I'll bet
Bobby is mad 'cause you made everybody laugh at him."

"'Twon't hurt him," declared Twaddles impishly. "Who's that man in
there, Meg?"

Meg glanced hurriedly into the office they were passing. The door was
partly closed, but she could see a man speaking to Miss Wright.

"That's the principal, Mr. Carter," whispered Meg, her teeth almost
chattering with fright. "I hope Miss Mason doesn't tell him about her
book."

Miss Wright had heard the whispering and came to the door.

"Why, Meg," she said pleasantly, "aren't you going home early? And are
these new scholars?"

"It's the twins," stammered Meg desperately. "They would come, and
Miss Mason says I must take them home."

Mr. Carter, who had come up behind Miss Wright, laughed. He had clear,
kind eyes behin