Even
sooner than he saw this, his keen nostrils had told him of human
presence there. He shifted his course to investigate.
Standing over the compactly-fastened swathing of clothes, Laddie
bent down and sniffed. It was a human. He knew that; in spite of
the thick veil that covered the slumberer's face. But it was also
a bundle. It was a bundle which might well be expected to delight
the Mistress almost as much as had the parasol;--far more than
had the defunct chicken.
Daintily, with infinite gentleness, Lad fixed his teeth in the
loosest portion of the bundle that he could find; and lifted it.
It was amazingly heavy, even for so powerful a dog. But
difficulties had never yet swerved Lad from any set purpose.
Bracing his strength, he turned homeward, carrying the burden
between his mighty jaws.
And now, he was aware of some subtler feeling than mere desire to
bring the Mistress one more gift. His great heart had ever gone
out in loving tenderness toward everything helpless and little.
He adored children. The roughest of them could take unpardonable
liberties with him.
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