170 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

Penalty, for a kindly although terribly wintry smile gleamed once
or twice out of his old eyes.

“ You are on the right track, child,” he said, when Buttercup
had finished all his bread and milk. ‘The fact is, the King of
the Country beyond the Blue Mountains takes a great interest in
you, and that mother of yours is anxious about you. It is a
way mothers have. J can’t understand it, but I have always
noticed that little boys with good mothers come right in the end.
You have been a remarkably silly, naughty, troublesome little lad,
but when you conquered Featherpate you started on the nght
track. I and my rod, therefore, have nothing further to say to
you. Go back to Mrs. Discipline’s now as quickly as you can, and
tell her that I have sent you back, and that I didn’t use the rod.
Good-bye, Buttercup ; good-bye.”

fs I'd like to kiss you Deron I go,” said Buttercup, “for you
have been very kind to me.’

“YT wouldn’t if I were you,” said Mr. Penalty; “for I can
assure you I am not at all a pleasant person to kiss.”

“ But you have been so kind,” said Buttercup, “and that’s
the only way I can thank you.”

He ran up to the old, old man as he spoke and pressed his
velvety rosebud lips against his withered cheek. Poor little
Buttercup never felt anything like the hardness and sharpness of
that cheek; it seemed to sting his young lips like so many nettles ;
he started away, and put up his hand to his face.

“IT told you I wasn’t pleasant to kiss,” said Mr. Penalty ;
“but never mind. When you kissed me, you in a measure kissed
the rod; that’s a good thing—that’s a capital thing; you'll be
none the worse for it, I promise you. Now go back to Mrs.
Discipline as fast as you can.”