Unfortunately it happened again and again that something belonging to Lulu attracted his attention, and was seriously damaged or totally destroyed by his teeth and claws.  He chewed up a pair of kid gloves belonging to her; and it did not mend matters that Rosie laughed as though it were a good joke, and then told her it was her own fault for not putting them in their proper place when she took them off:  he tore her garden-hat into shreds; he upset her inkstand; tumbled over her work-basket, tangling the spools of sewing-silk and cotton; jumped upon her with muddy paws, soiling a new dress and handsome sash; and at last capped the climax by defacing a book of engravings, belonging to Mr. Dinsmore, which she had carelessly left in his way.

Then her anger burst forth, and she kicked the dog till his howls brought Rosie running to the rescue.

“How dare you, Lulu Raymond!” she exclaimed, with flashing eyes, as she gathered Trip in her arms, and soothed him with caresses.  “I’ll not allow my pet to be so ill used in my own mother’s house!”

“He deserves a great deal more than I gave him,” retorted Lulu, quivering with passion; “and if you don’t want him hurt, you’ll have to keep him out of mischief.  Just look what he has done to this book!”

“One of grandpa’s handsome volumes of engravings!” cried Rosie, aghast.  “But who left it lying there?”

“I did.”

“Then you are the one to blame, and not my poor little Trip, who, of course, knew no better.  How is he to tell that books are not meant for gnawing quite as much as bones?”

“What is the matter, children?” asked Mr. Dinsmore, stepping out upon the veranda where the little scene was enacting.  “It surprises me to hear such loud and angry tones.”

For a moment each girlish head drooped in silence, hot blushes dyeing their cheeks; then Lulu, lifting hers, said, “I’m very sorry, grandpa Dinsmore.  I oughtn’t to have brought this book out here; but it wouldn’t have come to any harm if it hadn’t been for that troublesome dog, that’s as full of mischief as he can be.  I don’t believe it was more than five minutes that I left the book lying there on the settee; and when I ran back to get it, and put it away in its place, he had torn out a leaf, and nibbled and soiled the cover, as you see.

“But if you’ll please not be angry, I’ll save up all my pocket-money till I can buy you another copy.”

“That would take a good while, child,” Mr. Dinsmore answered.  “It is a great pity you were so careless.  But I’ll not scold you, since you are so penitent, and so ready to make all the amends in your power.  Rosie, you really must try to restrain the mischievous propensities of your pet.”

“I do, grandpa,” she said, flashing an angry glance at Lulu; “but I can’t keep him in sight every minute; and, if people will leave things in his way, I think they are more to blame than he is if he spoils them.”