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.
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