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.
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