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 reassuring thrust of Lad's muzzle into her
cupped palm. It all seemed as vividly real as though she could still
feel the friendly contact.

On the next morning, Ruloff alone of all the village's population went
to work. For it was Labor Day.

Ruloff did not believe in holidays,--either for himself or for his
family. And while wages were so high he was not minded to throw away a
full day's earnings, just for the sake of honoring a holiday ordained
in a country for which he felt no fondness or other interest. So, with
Sonya tagging after him, he made his way to the Place, as usual.

Now, on Labor Day, of that year, was held the annual outdoor dog-show
at Hawthorne. Lad, of course, was far too old to be taken to a show.
And this was one of the compensations of old age. For Laddie detested
dog shows. But, abnormally sensitive by nature, this sensitiveness had
grown upon him with failing strength and added years. Thus, when he saw
Bruce and Bob and Jean bathed and groomed and made ready for the show,
he was sad at heart. For here was one more thing in which he no longer
had any share.

And so he lay down in his cave, under the piano, his head between his
absurdly small white forepaws; and hearkened sadly to the preparations
for departure.

Bruce ("Sunnybank Goldsmith") was perhaps the most beautiful collie