MR. CHUPES AND MISS JENNY 



ning, he grasps a piece of cracked nut, and 

 almost simultaneously he is on his haunches 

 with his tail whisked over his back. Then 

 follows the rapid, nervous nibble, nibble, 

 nibble, while the busy forepaws turn and 

 twist the nut to the best advantage, and the 

 roving eyes scan us. When the meat is 

 eaten the shell is dropped like a flash, and 

 the forepaws are placed tightly against the 

 breast as in a muff. Then Rufus drops off 

 into one of those remarkable fits of contem- 

 plation which are so incompatible with his 

 usual indescribable briskness and alertness. 

 At such times one could almost imagine 

 him a stuffed specimen, so immovable is he, 

 so apparently indifferent to everything that 

 is going on around him. But you would 

 reckon without your host if you were to 

 settle down in the expectation of an oppor- 

 tunity for a lengthy and comfortable con- 

 templation of the little fellow; for as sud- 

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