ll in the
later stages of his puppyhood. He was frequently inspired by a demon of
mischief or haunted by a variety of vagabond instincts which such
training as he had received, without the support of prolonged discipline
and practical experience, failed to extinguish.

May was very particular about his education in theory, but in practice
she fell considerably short of her excellent intentions. She always
carried a whip with a whistle in the handle; and the sight of the
instrument of punishment ought to have been enough for Tray, since
there was no farther application of it. In reality, the sharp-sighted
little animal no more obeyed the veritable whistle than he winced under
the supposititious lash of the whip. He took his own way and did very
much what he liked in spite of the animated protests of his mistress.
Dora and May went out walking with Tray instead of Tray going on a walk
with them, and not infrequently the walk degenerated into an agitated
scamper at his heels. The scamper was diversified by a number of
ineffectual attempts to reclaim him from forcing his way into back-yards
and returning triumphantly with a bone or a crust between his teeth, "as
if we starved him, as if his dish at home was not generally half full,
though we've tried so hard to find out what he likes," said May
plaintively. If otherwise engaged it would be in chasing cats, running
down fowls, barking at message boys--to whom he had the greatest
antipathy--or, most serious foible of all, threatening to engage in
single combat with dogs twice his size and three times his age.

There is no accounting for tastes, seeing that these tumultuous walks
were the delight of May's days, and that even Dora, with her inveterate
sympathy, enjoyed them, though they deranged somewhat her sense of
maidenly dignity and decorum. It was to be hoped that as Tray grew in
years he would grow in discretion, and would show a little forbearance
to the friends who were so forbearing to him.

Tray, Dora, and May had gone on their customary expedition. The human
beings of the party were inclined to direct their steps as quickly as
possible to one of the country roads. Tray's eccentricities at the
present stage of his development were hardly calculated for the
comfortable traversing of a succession of streets and lanes. But the
canine leader of the party decided for the main street, and Dora and May
gave up their own inclinations, and followed in his erratic track with