After the swift inspection, Laddie's eyes rested again on
the Mistress. For an instant, he stood, looking at her, in that
mildly polite curiosity which held no hint of personal interest.
Then, all at once, his plumy tail began to wave. Into his sad
eyes sprang a flicker of warm friendliness. Unbidden--oblivious
of everyone else he trotted across to where the Mistress sat. He
put one tiny white paw in her lap; and stood thus, looking up
lovingly into her face, tail awag, eyes shining.
"There's no question whose dog he's going to be," laughed the
Master. "He's elected you,--by acclamation."
The Mistress caught up into her arms the halfgrown youngster,
petting his silken head, running her white fingers through his
shining mahogany coat; making crooning little friendly noises to
him.
Lad forgot he was a dignified and stately pocket-edition of a
collie. Under this spell, he changed in a second to an
excessively loving and nestling and adoring puppy.
"Just the same," interposed the Master, "we've been stung. I
wanted a dog to guard the Place and to be a menace to burglars
and all that sort of thing.
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