Annie laughed heartily. "Oh, you're a big man!" she said.
"Not very much taller than Joel Barnes."
"I should like you to belong," she said, "but I'm afraid the girls wouldn't be willing; only they want to know, sir, whether you'll let them meet here once a week."
"Once a day, if they will promise to keep up to their rules."
"And, Mr. Monks," said Annie, lowering her voice and growing very red, "the girls didn't tell me to ask; but if you'd only say where you found this," timidly touching his chain.
"Wait till to-night, my dear."
Once more, just before school closed, the kind teacher requested attention.
"You will see," he said, "that I have recovered my chain and seals. It is now nearly three weeks since a gentleman riding on the main road, near the Academy, saw them lying in his path. He was in haste, and could not stop to inquire for the owner; but he advertised them at once. A copy of the paper was seen, and given me, and I identified them as my property."
Then he dismissed the school, but called out after them to say, "I heartily approve the object of your new society, and will give it all the aid in my power."
