"Miss Madeline, don't you think it would be better to be a little sociable with them? You will have enemies among them if you do not." "If I can find one real little girl, who likes me for myself alone, that is the playmate for me. Bring your sister, Roland; I'd rather play with Effie, than any of the rest of them." "She is not here to-day, Miss Madeline!" "What do you think of Miss Corning, Roland? I don't think I shall like her very much; she has such a stern, cross way of speaking, She need not order me about; I can be led, but I can't be driven!" and the proud spirit flashed in Madeline's expressive eyes. "Just obey the rules, and study well, Miss Madeline, and you'll have no trouble with Miss Corning; but if you don't, you'll have a hard time. Every one has to mind her, and you must not try to have your own way here." "Who is that queer-looking boy sitting under the tree, Roland?" asked the child. Roland smiled as he said, "Poor fellow! he is not very smart; his name is Tony Willikins; he is an only son, and his father is a very rich man, and gives him everything he wants." Just then Tony came near where Madeline was seated, and being an admirer of pretty little girls, he stopped before her, and making an attempt to bow by pulling his cap suddenly from his head, and clapping it under his arm, he said, "How do you do, Miss? Please tell me your name." Madeline burst out laughing at the grotesque figure that stood before her, twisting his watch-chain, and simpering in such an unmeaning manner. "My name is Mad-cap Hamilton," answered the child. "That's a queer name! I don't like it much, Miss. My name is Anthony Willikins; my pop lives in a great big house; we have six horses and two carriages, and three dogs, and a big garden, and ever so many books, but I can't read any of 'em yet; and I've got a boat all to myself, and one carriage and two horses. Wouldn't you like to take a ride with me, some day? I'd like to take you; pop would let me, I know; won't you ask your pop to let you go?" All this time Madeline was convulsed with laughter, and could scarcely answer. "I don't think papa would let me go, Tony; he does not like me to go with strangers." Just then the bell rang, and after a short afternoon session, the school was dismissed, and Madeline went home with her tasks for the next day. While the novelty lasted, duties progressed very well; but the old habits of indolence returned, and then came the warfare between Madeline, the self-willed, and Miss Corning, the determined. "Madeline, how is it that you now come daily unprepared with your lessons?" inquired the lady. "I had something else to do," was the quick reply. "Do you expect to go home without reciting them?" "Certainly, Miss Corning! I cannot learn them all in school." "We will see, Madeline! for you can't leave the room at recess, or go home until they are learned perfectly."