he tears
glisten in her dark eyes, when a tale of sorrow or delicious poem had
excited her emotion. Perhaps she was at that very moment weeping at
his harshness; and then proofs of interest in _him_, albeit she was a
laughter-loving spirit, stole over his memory. He thought of an
evening he had lately passed at her house, when his conversation
seemed to rivet her attention, although he afterward heard her say,
"There! Mary Jane has a party to-night, and I entirely forgot it until
too late. Well, I have enjoyed myself better here." And _he_, the
ingrate! how had he returned it, by unwarrantable rudeness! She was
just beginning to talk to him with confiding frankness of her books,
her tastes, and opening to _his_ study a mind as well worth it as the
changing loveliness of her face--when this folly had destroyed it all.
And what would the good minister say? He who had received him so
kindly; so hospitably told him to come to him at any and all times
when he could be of assistance--what would _he_ say to have his pet,
at once his amusement and pride, turned out of school like any common
urchin?

Oh! how the hours of school dragged. Every moment seemed to bear a
weight of lead, and carry to the luckless teacher a thousand arrows
poisoned by self-reproach. No sooner was his fiat of release obtained,
than with mingled regret and apprehension, he wended his steps to the
parsonage. He knocked at the door, desired to see Mr. Hinton, and was
accordingly shown up into his study.

"He looks as if something lay on his mind," thought the clergyman, as
he saw him enter, and advanced to shake hands with him. "Perhaps he is
considering the concerns of his soul. Heaven help me to counsel him
aright!" and there was an unusual kindliness in his tone, as he urged
him to be seated, which was "heaping coals of fire" on the head of the
conscience-stricken teacher.

A pause. "I am--I have called--I regret--"

"Ah, yes," mentally ejaculated the old man, "he feels the burden of
sin, and is under conviction, I see--"

"In short, sir, I am sorry to trouble you at this time, but I--"

"Speak out freely, my dear young man," said his benignant listener.

Is it possible he does not know what has passed?

"I regret to say that, vexed by the inattention of the scholars, and
by whispering, in which Miss Annie joined, I hastily told her to leave
school."

"Told my daughter Annie to leave school!"

The door of the study was thrown open, and Anni