further adventures of lad-第24部分

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The　delivery　boy　saw　more。　In　a　swirl　of　black　bad　temper；　Lady　had　gathered　herself　up　from　the　ditch　where　Lad's　toss　had　landed　her。　Without　a　moment's　pause　she　threw　herself　upon　the　luckless　dog　whose　rough　toss　had　saved　her　life。　Teeth　aglint；　growling　ferociously；　she　dug　her　fangs　into　the　hurt　shoulder　and　slung　her　whole　weight　forward　in　the　bite。

Thus　was　it　the　temperamental　Lady's　wont　to　punish　real　or　fancied　injuries　from　the　Place's　other　animals；and　from　humans　as　well；　except　only　the　Mistress　and　the　Master。　She　charged　first；　and　did　her　thinking　afterward。　Apparently；　her　brain；　just　then；　could　hold　no　impression　except　that　her　interfering　mate　had　picked　her　up　by　the　neck…scruff　and　had　thrown　her；　head　over　heels；　into　a　ditch。　And　such　treatment　called　for　instant　penalty。

Under　her　fifty…pound　impact；　poor　Lad's　three…cornered　balance　gave　way。　Down　he　went　in　an　awkward　heap；　while　Lady　snarled　viciously　and　snapped　for　his　momentarily　exposed　throat。　Lad　turned　his　head　aside　to　guard　the　throat；　but　he　made　no　move　to　resent　this　ungrateful　onslaught；　much　less　to　fight　back。　Which　was　old　Lad's　way；with　Lady。

Dislocated　shoulder　or　not；　he　would　have　flown　at　any　male　dog　that　assailed　him；　and　would　have　made　the　aggressor　fight　for　dear　life。　But　his　mate　was　sacred。　And　he　merely　protected　his　throat　and　let　her　nip　agonizingly　at　his　ears　and　paws；　until　her　brief　flurry　of　wrath　should　be　past。

A　shout　from　the　veranda；whither　the　racket　had　drawn　the　Master　from　his　study；put　a　sudden　stop　to　Lady's　brainstorm。　Obedience　was　the　first　and　foremost　rule　drilled　into　the　Little　People　of　the　Place。　And；　from　puppy　days；　the　collies　were　taught　to　come；and　to　come　at　a　run；at　call　from　the　Mistress　or　the　Master。

Lady；　with　no　good　grace；　desisted　from　her　punitive　task；　and　galloped　down　the　drive　to　the　house。　Lad；　rising　with　difficulty；　followed；　as　fast　as　a　three…legged　gait　would　permit。　And　behind　them　chugged　the　delivery　boy；　bawling　explanations。

A　sharp　word　of　reproof　sent　Lady　skulking　into　a　corner；　anger　forgotten　in　humiliation　at　the　public　rebuke。　The　Master　paid　no　heed　to　her。　Running　up　the　drive；　he　met　Lad；　and　picked　up　the　suffering　collie　in　his　arms。　Carrying　him　into　the　study；　the　Master　gave　first　aid　to　the　serious　dislocation；　then　phoned　for　the　nearest　good　vet。

As　he　left　the　study；　to　telephone；　he　encountered　Lady；　very　woebegone　and　cringing；　at　the　door。　When　he　returned；　he　beheld　the　remorseful　little　gold…and…white　vixen　licking　her　mate's　hurt　shoulder　and　wagging　a　propitiatory　tail　in　plea　for　forgiveness　from　the　dog　she　had　bitten　and　from　the　Master　whose　Law　she　had　broken　by　her　attack　on　the　car。

Always；　after　her　brief　rages；　Lady　was　prettily　and　genuinely　repentant　and　eager　to　make　friends　again。　And；　as　ever；　Lad　was　meeting　her　apologies　more　than　half…way；absurdly　blissful　at　her　dainty　attentions。

In　the　days　that　followed；　Lady　at　first　spent　the　bulk　of　her　time　near　her　lame　mate。　She　was　unusually　gentle　and　affectionate　with　him；　and　seemed　trying　to　make　up　to　him　for　the　enforced　idleness　of　strained　sinews　and　dislocated　joint。　In　her　friendliness　and　attention；　Lad　was　very；　very　happy。

The　vet　had　bandaged　his　shoulder　and　had　anointed　it　with　pungently　smelly　medicines　whose　reek　was　disgusting　and　even　painful　to　the　thoroughbred's　supersensitive　nostrils。　Moreover；　the　vet　had　left　orders　that　Lad　be　made　to　keep　quiet　until　the　hurt　should　heal；　and　that　he　risk　no　setback　by　undue　exertion　of　any　sort。　It　was　sweet　to　lie　in　the　Master's　study；one　white　forepaw　or　the　great　shapely　head　laid　lovingly　on　the　man's　hiking　boot；　and　with　an　occasional　pat　or　a　friendly　word　from　his　deity；　as　the　latter　pounded　away　on　a　clicky　typewriter　whose　jarring　noise　Lad　had　long　ago　taught　himself　to　tolerate。

Sweeter　it　was　to　be　made　much　of　and　〃poored〃　by　the　Mistress；　and　to　have　her　light　hands　adjust　his　bandages；　and　to　hear　her　tell　him　what　a　dear　dog　he　was　and　praise　his　bravery　in　rescuing　Lady。

Perhaps　sweetest　of　all；　in　those　early　days　of　convalescence；　was　the　amazing　solicitude　of　Lady　herself　；　and　her　queerly　maternal　tenderness　toward　him。

But；　as　the　summer　days　dreamed　themselves　away　and　Lad's　splendid　health　brought　him　nearer　and　nearer　to　recovery；　Lady　waxed　restive　under　the　long　strain　of　indolence　and　of　good　temper。　Lad　had　been　her　companion　in　the　early　morning　rambles　through　the　forest；　back　of　the　Place；　in　rabbit　quests；　in　swims　in　the　ice；　cool　lake　at　the　foot　of　the　lawn；　in　romps　on　the　smooth　green　grass　and　in　a　dozen　of　the　active　pursuits　wherein　country…bred　collies　love　to　squander　the　outdoor　days。

Less　and　less　did　Lady　content　herself　with　dull　attendance　on　the　convalescent。　More　and　more　often　did　she　set　forth　without　him　on　those　cross…country　runs　that　had　meant　so　much　to　them　both。　Lad　would　watch　her　vanish　up　the　drive；their　fiery　little　son；　Wolf；　cantering　gleefully　at　her　side。　Then；　his　dark　eyes　full　of　sorrow；　he　would　gaze　at　the　Master　and；　with　a　sigh；　would　lie　back　on　his　rugand　wait。

There　was　something　so　human；so　uncomplainingly　wretched；in　look　and　in　sigh；that　the　Master　was　touched　by　the　big　dog's　loneliness　and　vexed　at　the　flighty　Lady's　defection。　Stooping　down；　at　one　such　time；　he　ran　his　hand　over　the　beautiful　silky　head　that　rested　against　his　knee；　and　said　in　lame　attempt　at　comfort：

〃Don't　let　it　get　under　your　skin；　Laddie！　She　isn't　worth　it。　One　of　your　honest　paws　is　worth　more　than　her　whole　fly…away　body。Not　that　anyone　ever　was　loved　because　he　or　she　was　worthy！You're　up　against　the　penalty　that　is　bound　to　get　everybody　with　a　soul；　who　is　fool　enough　to　love　something　or　somebody　without　one　。　。　。　。　We're　going　over　for　the　mail；the　Mistress　and　I。　Want　to　come　along？〃

At　once　the　melancholy　in　Lad's　deep　eyes　gave　place　to　puppy…like　exultance。

While；　naturally；　he　did　not　understand　one　word　in　ten　of　the　Master's　frequent　prosy　homilies　to　him；　or　of　the　Mistress's　more　melodious　speech；　yet；　from　puppyhood；　he　had　been　talked　to　by　both　of　them。　And；　as　ever　with　a　highbred　collie；　such　constant　conversation　had　borne　ample　fruit；not　only　in　giving　the　dog　a　startling　comprehension　of　voice…meanings；　but　also　in　teaching　him　to　understand　many　simple　words　and　phrases。

For　example；　he　recognized；　as　readily　as　would　any　five…year…old　child；　this　invitation　to　go　motoring。　And　it　banished　the　memory　of　Lady's　fickleness。

This　morning；　for　the　first　time　since　his　accident；　Lad　was　able　to　spring　into　the　car…tonneau；　unaided。　His　hurt　was　all…but　well。　Enthroning　himself　in　the　precise　center　of　the　rear　seat；　he　prepared　to　enjoy　every　inch　of　the　ride。

No　matter　how　long　or　how　tedious　were　these　jaunts；　Lad　never　went　to　sleep　or　ceased　to　survey　with　eager　attention　the　myriad　details　of　the　trip。　There　was　something　half…laughable；　half…pathetic；　in　his　air　of　strained　interest。

Only　when　the　Mistress　and　the　Master　both　chanced　to　leave　the　car　at　the　same　time；　at　market　or　bank　or　postoffice；　would　Lad　cease　from　this　genial　and　absorbed　inspection　of　everything　in　sight。　Left　alone　in　the　machine；　he　always　realized　at　once　that　he　was　on　guard。　Head　on　paws　he　would　lie；　intently　scanning　anyone　who　might　chance　to　pause　near　the　auto；　and；　with　a　glint　of　curved　white　fang　beneath　sharply　upcurled　lip；　warning　away　such　persons　as　ventured　too　close。

Marketing　done；　today；　the　trio　from　the　Place　started　homeward。　Less　than　a　quarter…mile　from　their　own　gateway；　they　heard　the　blaring　honk　of　a　motor　horn　behind　them。

Within　a　second　thereafter；　a　runabout　roared　past；　the　cut…out　making　echoes　along　the　still　road；　and　a　poisonously　choking　cloud　of　dust　whirling　aloft　in　the　speedster's　wake。

The　warning　honk　had　not　given　the　Mistress　time　to　turn　out。　Luckily　she　was　driving　well　on　her　own　side　of　the　none…too…wide　road。　As　it　was；　a　sharp　little　jar　gave　testimony　to　the　light　touch　of　mudguards。　And　the　runabout　whizzed　on。

〃That's　one　of　the　speed…idiots　who　make　an　automobile　an　insult　to　everybody　except　its　owner！　The　young　fool！〃　stormed　the　Master；　glowering　impotently　at　the　other　car；　already　a　hundred　yards　ahead；　and　at　the　back　of　its　one　occupant；　a　sportily…clad　youth　in　the　early　twenties。

A　high…pitched　yelping　bark；partly　of　dismay；　partly　of　warning；from　Lad；　broke　in　on　the　Master's　fuming　remonstrance。　The　big　dog　had　sprung　up　from　his　rear　seat　cushion　and；　with　forepaws　gripping　the　back　of　the　front　seat；　he　was　peering　forward；　his　head　and　shoulders　between　the　Mistress　and　the　Master。

Never　before　in　all　his　rides　had　Lad　so　transgressed　the　rules　of　motoring　behavior　as　to　thrust　himself　forward　like　this。　A　word　of　rebuke　died　on　the　Master's　tongue；　as　the　Mistress；　with　a　gasp　of　fear；　pointed　ahead；　in　the　path　of　the　speeding　runabout。

Lady　and　Wolf　had　had　a　jolly　gallop　through　the　summer　woodlands。　And　at　last　they　had　turned　their　faces　homeward；　for　the　plunge　in　the　cool　lake　which　was　wont　to　follow　a　hot　weather　run。　Side　by　side　they　jogged　along；　to　the　forest　edgeand　into　the　sixteen…acre　meadow　that　stretches　from　forest　to　highway。

A　few　rods　on　the　far　side　of　the　road　which　separated　the　meadow　from　the　rest　of　the　Place；　Wolf　paused　to　investigate　a　chipmunk　hole。　Lady　was　more　interested　just　then　in　splashing　her　hot　body　in　the　chill　of　the　lake　than　in　exploring　for　hypothetical　chipmunks。

Moreover；　her　keen　ears　caught　a　sound　which　rapidly　swept　nearer　and　nearer。　A　motor…car　with　the　muffler　cut　out　was　approaching；　at　a　most　gratifyingly　high　speed。

The　noise　was　as　martial　music　to　Lady。　The　speed　promised　exhilarating　sport。　Her　trot　merged　into　a　headlong　run；　and　she　dashed　out　into　the　road。

The　runabout　was　a　bare　fifty　yards　ahead　of　her；　and　it　was　coming　on　with　a　speed　which　shook　even　Lady's　excitement…craving　nerves。　Here；　evidently；　was　a　playmate　which　it　would　be　safer　to　chase　than　to　confront　head…on。

It　was　at　this　juncture；　by　the　way；　that　Lad　lurched　forward　from　the　rear　seat　and　that　the　Mistress　pointed　in　terror　at　the　endangered　collie。