im, her own,
sunny, cheerful smile.

"We know you didn't, dear," she declared proudly.

"She sent you a note, Mother," said Bobby, fishing around in his
pocket and bringing out a crumpled, rather soiled little envelope.
"My, I was mad! She doesn't believe a word I say. I wish I had
spoiled her old book!"

"Hasn't it been the meanest day!" sighed Meg. "I hate school!"

Mother Blossom folded the note she had been reading.

"Dot and Twaddles, Sam is just backing out the car to go after Daddy,"
she said to the twins. "Run along, and you may go with him."

The twins scampered off, and then she turned to Meg and Bobby.

"Miss Mason evidently thinks you destroyed the book, Bobby," sighed
Mother Blossom, "but as it can not be positively proved, you are to go
to school as usual. I am sorrier than words can tell you that this has
happened. But, dearie, I'm afraid you are a bit to blame."

"Me?" cried the astonished Bobby. "Why, Mother!"

"Well, think how you acted over the arithmetic lesson," Mother Blossom
reminded him. "You know Daddy and I have talked to you about this
before, Bobby. You are not a very good loser, and the boy who can't
lose and keep his temper will never be a good sportsman. Suppose
Daddy got mad and 'talked back' whenever things didn't go to suit him
at the foundry!"

Mother Blossom put an arm around Bobby and drew him closer to her.

"And if you had spoken to Daddy or to me as you did to Miss Mason,"
she went on, smoothing back his hair, "I think you know what you would
be asked to do--what you would want to do, in fact. Don't you?"

"'Pologize," muttered Bobby shamefacedly.

"Yes," said Mother Blossom. "And I want you to apologize to Miss Mason
for being discourteous. Never mind if she does think you spoiled the
book. As long as you know and we know you didn't, that really doesn't
matter very much; and you'll feel so much better if you do what is
right. The boy who did ruin the book will be found out some day. Such
things always come to light."

CHAPTER X

SENT TO THE OFFICE

The next morning Bobby trudged off to school with Meg feeling, for the
first time in his life, that he would rather do anything except go to
school.

"You stay out and play," he directed Meg when they reached the yard.
"I'll go up and see Miss Mason."

He found the teacher at her desk. She looked neat and cool and
self-possessed, and Bobby did not have any of those qualities at that
moment.

"I'm sorry