150 THE LAND OF PLUCK

without even the warning of a growl. But Ruky could
safely pull Nep’s ears or his tail, or climb his great shagey
back, or even snatch away the untasted bone. Still, as I
said before, every one loved the child; so, of course, Nep
was no exception.

One day Ruky’s “Cor! Cor!” had sounded oftener than
usual. THis rosy face had bent saucily to kiss Cora’s up-
turned forehead, as she raised her arms to lift him from the
tree; but the sparkle in his dark eyes had seemed to kindle
so much mischief in him that his sister’s patience became
fairly exhausted.

“ Has Cor nothing to do but to wait upon you?” she cried,
“and nothing to listen to but your noise and your racket ?
You shall go to bed early to-day, and then I shall have
some peace.”

“No, no, Cor. Please let Ruky wait till the stars come.
Ruky wants to see the stars.”

“Hush! Ruky is bad. He shall have a whipping when
Uncle comes back from town.”

Nep growled.

“WMa!ha!” laughed Ruky, jerking his head saucily from
side to side; “ Nep says ‘No!’”

Nep was shut out of the cottage for his pains, and poor
iiuky was undressed, with many a hasty jerk and pull.

“You hurt, Cor!” he said, plaintively. “I’m going to
take off my shoes my own self.”

“No, you ’re not,” cried Cora, almost shaking him; and
when he cried she called him naughty, and said if he did
not stop he should have no supper. This made him ery all
the more, and Cora, feeling in her angry mood that he
deserved severe punishment, threw away his supper and