further adventures of lad-第38部分

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d　infinitely　pathetic　to　the　two　humans　who　loved　him。　For　instance；　one　of　his　favorite　romps　in　bygone　days　had　been　to　throw　himself　down　in　front　of　the　Mistress　and　pretend　to　bite　her　little　feet；　growling　terrifically　as　he　did　it。　Twice　of　late；　as　he　had　been　walking　at　her　side；　his　footing　had　slipped　or　he　had　lost　his　balance；　and　had　tumbled　headlong　Instantly；　both　times；　he　had　begun　to　growl　and　had　bitten　in　mock　fury　at　the　Mistress's　foot。　By　this　pitiful　ruse　he　strove　to　make　her　believe　that　his　fall　had　been　purposeful　and　a　part　of　the　olden　game。

But　worst　of　all　he　missed　the　long　walks　on　which；　from　puppyhood；　he　had　always　accompanied　the　Mistress　and　the　Master。　Unknown　to　the　old　dog；　these　walks　had　been　shortened；　mercifully；　and　slowed　down；　to　accommodate　themselves　to　Lad's　waning　strength：　But　the　time　came　when　even　a　half…mile；　at　snail…pace；　over　a　smooth　road；　was　too　much　for　his　wind　and　endurance。

Nowadays；　when　they　were　going　for　a　walk；　Lad　was　first　lured　into　the　house　and　left　there。　The　ruse　did　not　fool　him；　any　more　than　it　would　have　deceived　a　grown　man。　And　his　feelings　were　cruelly　hurt　at　every　instance　of　this　seeming　defection　on　the　part　of　his　two　worshiped　human　chums。

〃He　still　enjoys　life；〃　mused　the　Master；　one　day　in　late　summer；　as　he　and　the　Mistress　sat　on　the　veranda；　with　Lad　asleep　at　their　feet。　〃And　he　can　still　get　about　a　bit。　His　appetite　is　good；　and　he　drowses　happily　for　a　good　deal　of　the　day；　and　the　car…rides　are　still　as　much　fun　for　him　as　ever　they　were。　But　when　the　time　comesand　he's　breaking　fast；　these　past　few　monthswhen　the　time　comes　that　life　is　a　misery　to　him〃

〃I　know；〃　interposed　the　Mistress；　her　voice　not　quite　steady。　〃I　know。　Do　you　suppose　I　haven't　been　thinking　about　it；　on　the　hot　nights　when　I　couldn't　sleep？　But；　when　the　time　comeswhen　it　comesyou'llyou'll　do　it；　yourself；　won't　you？〃

〃Yes；〃　promised　the　Master；　miserably。　〃No　one　else　shall。　I'd　rather　cut　off　one　of　my　own　hands；　though。　I'VE　been　doing　a　bit　of　thinking；　tooat　night。　It's　nobody's　job　but　mine。　Laddie　would　rather　have　it　that　way；　I　know。　And；　by　a　bullet。　He's　a　gallant　old　soldier。　And　that　is　the　way　for　him　to　go。　Now；　for　the　Lord's　sake；　let's　talk　about　something　else！　A　man　or　woman　is　a　fool　to　care　that　way　about　any　mere　dog。　I〃

〃But　Lad　isn't　a　'mere'　dog；〃　contradicted　the　Mistress；　stooping　to　pet　the　collie's　classic　head　as　it　lay　across　her　foot。　〃He'she's　Laddie。〃

The　sound　of　his　name　pierced　the　sleep　mists　and　brought　the　dog　to　wakefulness。　He　raised　his　head　inquiringly　toward　the　Mistress；　and　his　plumed　tail　began　to　thump　the　floor。　The　Mistress　patted　him　again；　and　spoke　a　word　or　two。　Lad　prepared　to　drowse　once　more。　Then；　to　his　dulled　ears　came　the　padding　of　little　bare　feet　on　the　grass。　And　he　glanced　up　again；　this　time　in　eager　interest。

Across　the　lawn　from　the　orchard　came　trotting　a　child；　carrying　a　basket　of　peaches　toward　the　kitchen。　The　youngster　wore　but　a　single　garment；　a　shapeless　calico　dress　that　fell　scarcely　to　her　knees。　She　was　Sonya；　the　seven…year…old　daughter　of　one　of　the　Place's　extra　workmen；　a　Slav　named　Ruloff　who　lived　in　the　mile…distant　village；　across　the　lake。

Ruloff；　following　the　custom　of　his　peasant　ancestors；　put　his　whole　family　to　work；　from　the　time　its　members　were　old　enough　to　toddle。　And　he　urged　them　against　the　vice　of　laziness　by　means　of　an　ever…ready　fist；　or　a　still　readier　toe　or　a　harness　strapwhichever　of　the　trio　of　energy　producers　chanced　to　be　handiest。　In　coming　over　to　the　Place；　for　a　month's　labor；　during　the　harvest　season；　he　brought　along　every　day　his　youngest　and　most　fragile　offspring；　Sonya。　Under　her　father's　directions　and　under　his　more　drastic　modes　of　encouragement；　the　little　girl　was　of　much　help　to　him　in　his　doily　toil。

Twice；　the　Master　had　caught　him　punishing　her　for　undue　slowness　in　carrying　out　some　duty　too　heavy　for　her　frail　strength。　On　both　times　he　had　stopped　the　brutal　treatment。　On　the　second；　he　had　told　Ruloff　he　would　not　only　discharge　him；　but　assist　his　departure　from　the　Place　with　a　taste　of　boot…toe　medicine；　if　ever　the　Slav　should　lay　a　hand　on　the　child　again　during　his　period　of　employment　there。　The　Place's　English　superintendent　had　promised　like　treatment　to　the　man；　should　he　catch　him　ill　treating　Sonya。

Wherefore；　Ruloff　had　perforce　curbed　his　parental　urgings　toward　violence；at　least　during　the　hours　when　he　and　the　child　were　on　the　Place。

Sonya　was　an　engaging　little　thing；　and　the　Mistress　had　made　a　pet　of　her。　So　had　the　Master。　But　the　youngster's　warmest　friend　was　old　Sunnybank　Lad。

From　the　first　day　of　Sonya's　advent　in　his　life；　Lad　had　constituted　himself　her　adorer　and　constant　companion。

Always　his　big　heart　had　gone　out　to　children；　as　to　everything　weak　and　defenseless。　Not　always　had　his　treatment　at　the　hands　of　children　encouraged　this　feeling　of　loving　chivalry　and　devotion。　But　Sonya　was　an　exception。　Whenever　she　could　steal　a　minute　of　time；　away　from　her　father's　glum　eyes　and　nagging　voice　and　ready　fist；　she　would　seek　out　Lad。

She　was　as　gentle　with　the　grand　old　dog　as　other　children　had　been　rough。　She　loved　to　cuddle　down　close　beside　him；　her　arms　around　his　shaggy　neck；　and　croon　queer　little　high…voiced　songs　to　him；　her　thin　cheek　against　his　head。　She　used　to　save　out　fragments　from　her　own　sparse　lunch　to　give　to　him。　She　was　inordinately　proud　to　walk　at　his　side　during　Lad's　rare　rambles　around　the　Place。　Child　and　dog　made　a　pretty　picture　of　utter　chumship。

To　nobody　save　the　Mistress　and　the　Master　had　Laddie　ever　given　his　heart　so　completely　as　to　this　baby。

Hurried　though　she　was；　today；　Sonya　set　down　her　basket　of　peaches　and；　with　a　shy　glance　of　appeal　at　the　two　humans；　reached　across　the　veranda　edge　to　stroke　Lad's　head　and　to　accept　in　delight　his　proffered　paw。　Then；　guiltily；　she　caught　up　her　basket　and　sped　on　to　the　kitchen。

Lad；　slowly　and　with　difficulty；　got　to　his　feet　and　followed　her。　A　minute　later　the　Mistress　watched　them　making　their　way　to　the　orchard；　side　by　side；　the　child　slackening　her　eager　steps　in　order　to　keep　pace　with　the　aged　dog。

〃I　wish　we　could　arrange　to　take　her　away　from　that　brute　of　a　father　of　hers；　and　keep　her　here；〃　said　the　Mistress。　〃It's　horrible　to　think　of　such　a　helpless　wisp　of　a　baby　being　beaten　and　made　to　work；　day　and　night。　And　then　she　and　Laddie　love　each　other　so。　They〃

〃What　can　we　do？〃　asked　the　Master；　hopelessly。　〃I've　spoken　to　the　village　authorities　about　it。　But　it　seems　the　law　can't　interfere；　unless　brutal　cruelty　can　be　proved　or　unless　the　parents　are　unfit　to　bring　up　the　child。〃

〃Brutal　cruelty？〃　echoed　the　Mistress。　〃What　could　be　more　brutal　than　the　way　he　beats　her？　Why；　last　week　there　was　a　bruise　on　her　arm　as　big〃

〃What　can　we　prove？　He　has　a　legal　right　to　punish　her。　If　we　got　them　up　in　court；　he'd　frighten　her　into　swearing　she　hurt　her　arm　on　a　fence　picket　and　that　he　never　harms　her。　No；　there's　no　sort　of　cure　for　the　rotten　state　of　affairs。〃

But　the　Master　was　mistaken。　There　was　a　very　good　cure　indeed　for　it。　And　that　cure　was　being　applied　at　the　moment　he　denied　its　existence。

Sonya　had　disappeared　from　view　over　the　crest　of　the　lawn：　Down　into　the　orchard　she　went；　Lad　at　her　side；　to　where　Ruloff　was　waiting　for　her　to　lug　another　full　basket　back　to　the　house。

〃Move！〃　he　ordered；　as　she　drew　near。　〃Don't　crawl！　Move；　or　I'll　make　you　move。〃

This　threat　he　voiced　very　bravely　indeed。　He　was　well　out　of　sight　of　the　house。　The　superintendent　and　the　two　other　men　were　working　on　the　far　side　of　the　hill。　It　seemed　an　eminently　safe　time　to　exercise　his　parental　authority。　And；　hand　uplifted；　he　took　a　threatening　step　toward　the　little　girl。

Sonya　cowered　back　in　mortal　dread。　There　was　no　mistaking　the　import　of　Ruloff's　tone　or　gesture。　Lad　read　it　as　clearly　as　did　the　child。　As　Sonya　shrank　away　from　the　menace；　a　furry　shoulder　was　pressed　reassuringly　against　her　side。　Lad's　cold　muzzle　was　thrust　for　the　merest　instant　into　her　trembling　hand。

Then；　as　Ruloff　advanced；　Lad　took　one　majestic　step　forward；　his　great　body　shielding　the　girl；　his　dark　eyes　sternly　on　the　man's；　his　lips　drawing　back　from　his　blunted　yellow　fangs。　Deep　in　his　throat　a　growl　was　born。

Ruloff　checked　himself；　looking　doubtfully　at　the　shaggy　brute。　And　at　the　same　moment　the　superintendent　appeared　over　the　ridge　of　the　hill；　on　his　way　to　the　orchard。　The　Slav　picked　up　a　filled　basket　and　shoved　it　at　Sonya。

〃Jump！〃　he　ordered。　〃Keep　moving。　Be　back　here　in　one　minute！〃

With　a　sigh　of　enormous　relief　and　a　pat　of　furtive　gratitude　to　Lad；　the　child　set　forth　on　her　errand。　Yet；　even　at　risk　of　a　sharper　rebuke；　she　accommodated　her　pace　to　Lad's　stately　slow　steps。

Hitherto　she　had　loved　the　dog　for　no　special　reason　except　that　her　heart　somehow　went　out　to　him。　But　now　she　had　a　practical　cause　for　her　devotion。　Lad　had　stood　between　her　and　a　fist　blow。　He　had　risked；　she　knew　not　what；　to　defy　her　all…terrible　father　and　to　protect　her　from　punishment。

As　soon　as　she　was　out　of　Ruloff's　sight；　she　set　down　her　basket；　and　flung　both　puny　arms　about　the　dog's　neck　in　an　agony　of　gratitude。

Her　squeeze　almost　strangled　the　weak　old　collie。　But　there　was　love　in　it。　And　because　of　that；　he　reveled　in　the　hurt。

〃You　won't　let　him　thump　me！〃　she　whispered　in　the　dog's　ear。　〃You　won't　let　him。　I'd　never　be　afraid　of　him；　if　you　were　there。　Oh；　Laddie；　you're　so　darling！〃

Lad；　highly　pleased；　licked　her　wizened　little　face　and；　sitting　down；　insisted　on　shaking　hands　with　her。　He　realized　he　had　done　something　quite　wonderful　and　had　made　this　little　chum　of　his　proud　of　him。　Wherefore；　he　was　proud　of　himself；　and　felt　young　and　gay　again；until　his　next　strenuous　effort　to　walk　fast。

All　night；　in　her　sleep；　in　the　stiflingly　hot　loft　of　her　father's　hovel；　which　served　her　and　the　five　other　Ruloff　children　as　a　dormitory；　Sonya　was　faintly　aware　of　that　bright　memory。　Her　first　waking　thought　was　of　the　shaggy　shoulder　pressed　so　protectingly　against　her　side；　and　of　the　reassuri