While the whip-slashes were too light to
do more than sting her well-mattressed back, yet the humiliation
of them seared deep into her sensitive nature. No sound did she
utter. But she cowered flat to the floor; and trembled as if in a
hard chill.
The whipping was over, in a few seconds. Again the Master
explained to her what it had been inflicted for. Then, calling
her to follow, he led the way out of doors and toward the
stables. Stomach to earth, the shamed and miserable Lady writhed
along, close at his heels.
The Master passed the stables and walked toward the brush fire,
where the two men were still at work. But he did not go within a
hundred feet of the fire. Turning, after he had left the stables
behind him, he made for the tool-house.
Lady saw whither he was bound. She ceased to follow. Wheeling
about, she trotted stealthily back toward the stables. Reaching
the tool-house door, the Master opened it and whistled to the
unhappy young collie. Lady was nowhere in sight. At a second
summons, she appeared from around the corner of the stables;
moving close to the ground, and with many wriggles of protest.
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