It is said that the worst reception of a compliment is to request its repetition; and the remark is just as applicable to a reproof. Certainly Harvey Hall found it so. Impudence he could have met successfully; but there was something in the arch air of respect, so evidently assumed, and in the polite tone accompanying bright eyes which _would_ almost laugh out, which told him that the present scene would figure in some after frolic formidable enough to young gentlemen who are never proof against the ridicule of mirthful girls in their teens. He longed to laugh with her at it all, but an assembled school, a roguish scholar, would not exactly admit of this; so, coloring a little, and then provoked at himself for the _gossiping_ blood which betrayed his inward embarrassment, he said, "Oh, merely that study is more appropriate to the school-room than amusement. I shall be happy to have it dwell in your memory and practice, Miss Hinton." Annie bowed gracefully, gravely, and turned away, but not before Hall mentally resolved never to admonish her again if he could avoid it. When the day for compositions came--that bore which all parties would gladly overlook instead of look over--Hall, dreading trite essays on all the hackneyed themes of school, told the misses under his charge to write on any thing that interested them--they might describe some of the manners and customs among them. "But we have _no manners_, and very few customs, Mr. Hall," said Annie. "Well, select any subject that pleases yourself, Miss Annie." The composition was on Dignity, and was so ludicrous, so _personal_ a description of it, that Mr. Hall was fairly puzzled. What shall I say to this merry damsel, who seems to turn into sport all I say or do. I cannot correct her. "Miss Hinton, carry this home to your father, and see if he says it is a proper article for you to bring in as a composition." The next day it was returned with, "My father thinks Dignity one of the finest things he has ever seen," she said, half hesitating, as if unwilling to utter such praise, but looking as if all the spirits of fun had taken the opportunity to look out of her eyes. Of course, her reverend parent had never had a glimpse of it--and this her teacher very well knew. But why watch her with more interest than all the "well behaved" of his school? In accordance with Scripture, he left the ninety and nine just ones, to search for the one who went astray. The lessons she recited had for him a double interest; the days she was absent were like the dull, gray sky of autumn--nay, several times he even acknowledged to himself that teaching was _not_ the dull routine he had supposed, and the term of his probation had not the leaden wings he had anticipated.