That was ever so long ago.
The Mistress and the Master were coming home. Lad knew that. He
could not have told how he knew it. In earlier years, he had
known their car was bringing them home to him, while it was still
a mile or more distant from the Place;--had known and had
cantered forth to meet it.
He was too tired, just now, to do that. At least, until he had
slept for a moment or two. Always, until now, the Mistress and
the Master had been first, with Lad. Now, for some odd reason,
sleep was first.
And he slept;--deeply, wearily.
Presently, as he slept, he sighed and then quivered a little.
After that, he lay still. The great heart, very quietly, had
stopped beating.
Into the driveway, from the main road, a furlong above, rolled
the homecoming car. At sight of it, Sonya started up. She was not
certain how the car's occupants would take her preempting of the
veranda in their absence. Letting Lad's head gently down to the
floor, she slipped away.
To the barn she went, ignorant that her father had not returned
to the orchard. She wanted to get herself into a more courageous
frame of mind before meeting Ruloff.
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