按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
cured； the puppy had begun to show the results of his sire's stern teachings。
Indeed； Lady's absence was the best thing that could have befallen Wolf。 For； otherwise； his training must needs have devolved upon the Mistress and the Master。 And no mere humans could have done the job with such grimly gentle thoroughness as did Lad。 Few dogs； except pointers or setters or collies； will deign to educate their puppies to the duties of life and of field and of house。 But Lad had done the work in a way that left little to be asked for。
When Lady came home； her flighty brain seemed to have forgotten the fact that young Wolf was her once…adored son。 Of her earlier capricious devotion to him； no trace remained。 She sniffed in stand…offish inquiry at him； as at a stranger。 And the scatterbrain pup remembered her no better than she remembered him。 There is a wide gulf in intelligence between a three…month puppy and one six months old。
Yet；perhaps because they were both excitable and mischievous and loved romping；and because each was a novelty to the othermother and son quickly formed a new friendship。 From the more sedate and discipline…enforcing Lad； the youngster turned eagerly to chum…ship with this flighty gold…white stranger。 And Lady； for similar reason； seemed to find ten times as much congeniality and fun in romping with Wolf as in playing with the less galvanically agile Lad。
In brief； Lady and little Wolf became inseparable companions； this to the semi…exclusion of Lad。
The great collie did not resent this exclusion； nor did he try to regain his fast…slipping hold on Wolf's affections。 Yet； in fashion that was more pathetic than ludicrous； he sought to win back Lady's waning affection。 A bit clumsily； he tried to romp and gambol with her； as did Wolf。 He tried to interest her； as of yore； in following his lead in break…neck forest gallops after rabbits or in gloriously exhilarating swims in the fire…blue lake at the foot of the lawn。 To the pityingly on…looking Mistress and Master； he seemed like some general or statesman seeking to unbend in the games and chatter of a party of high school boys and girls。
But it was no use。
True； in the cross…country runs or the swirling charges after rabbits； neither Lady nor Wolf could keep up with Lad's flying stride。 And a long swim； which scarce breathed Lad； would exhaust either or both of them。
But； they were young； and he was middle…aged。 And； as in human relationships； that one sentence told the whole tragic story。
As well expect a couple of flyaway children to give up a game of tag in order to listen to the solemn discourse of an elderly uncle； as to make the fun…loving Lady and Wolf widen their selfish comradeship to include in it the steadier and older and infinitely wiser Lad。
Perforce； Lad was thrown more and more on the society of the Mistress and the Master。 And； in their friendship； he was happy；until he would chance to see his mate and his little son playing in wild ecstasy with a stick or ball； and would frisk bulkily over to join them。 In a bare second or two； the demeanor of both showed him just what a grossly unwelcome interloper he was。
Whereat； after a wistfully miserable glance from one to the other of the exclusive pair； Lad would trot slowly back to his human deities； and。 with a queerly sobbing little sigh； he would curl up at the Mistress's feet。
〃It's a shame； Laddie！〃 declared the Mistress； at one such time。 〃It's a SHAME！ Why； you are worth a million of those crazy playdogs！ You're a million times wiser and beautifuller and more lovable。 Why do you bother with them？ Master and I are ever so much better company for you； and we love to have you with us。 Stay right here； and forget them。〃
Lad； perhaps； understood the actual meaning of one word in ten of the advice。 But he understood and loved the Mistress's sweet voice and the caress of her cool little hand； and the sympathy in her tone。 It all meant much to Laddie。 Very much indeed。 And he laid his mighty head against her knee； happy in the comfort of touch and voice。
Nevertheless； that wistful glint was ever lurking in his deep…set eyes； nowadays。 And his gayly trumpeting bark rang out less often and less jubilantly than of old。 He took to moping。 And he spent more time than before in his beloved 〃cave；〃 under the music…room piano。
Moping and solitude are no more beneficial to dogs than to humans。 The Master racked his brain for some way of bringing the splendid collie back to his olden spirits。
Luck； or fate； took the matter out of his hands。
The Mistress and the Master were invited to spend a week with some friends whose house stood in an ultra…restricted residential park； high up in the Catskills。 By leaving the Place at sunrise； they could reach the Park； by motor； in time for afternoon tea。
At dawn； the car was brought to the door。 Its tonneau was piled with luggage； and all was ready for a start as soon as the unappetizingly early breakfast could be swallowed。
Wolf and Lady； after following the car from the garage to the door； wearied of the uninspiring wait； and set forth at a hand…gallop for the woods。 There； at dawning； the dew would lie heavy。 And wet ground ever holds scent better than does dry。 It would be easy to pick up and follow rabbit trails； through the damp。
Lad made as though to follow them。 He ran out of the house and half…way up the drive in pursuit of their flashing gold…and…white flight。 Neither turned a head at sound of his following steps。 Neither slackened pace to include him in the hunt。
Always abnormally sensitive； the big collie noted this aloofness。 And he came to an irresolute halt。 For a moment； he stared after the two vanishing runaways； his plumed tail swaying ever so little； in groundless expectation of an invitingly glance or yelp from Lady。 Then； tail and crest adroop； he turned slowly back toward the house。
From puppyhood； an odd trait of Lad's had caused amusement at the Place。 Whenever he was unhappy or considered himself ill…treated； it was his way to hunt for something wherewith he might comfort himself。 For instance； as a pup； a scolding for some petty misdeed would send him in search of his cherished flannel doll or his squeaking ball。 In later years； the car had taken the place of these babyhood comforters。
Lad cared more for motoring than for any other amusement。 In moments of stress he sometimes ran to the garage and curled himself up in the tonneau； as though in hope someone might take pity on his unhappiness and give him a drive。 And； usually； somebody did。
Now； turning back； rebuffed； from the forest gallop； he caught sight of the car。 Not in the garage； either； but at the front door； where its presence could mean nothing except an immediate ride。
With one high spring； Lad had cleared the ground and was over the closed tonneau door and amid a ruck of luggage and rugs。 The rear seat was filled by a steamer…trunk； strapped tightly in place there。 And the bottom of the car was annoyingly crowded by bumpy bags and other gear。
Still； by the simple and ancestral process of turning himself around several times； Lad was able to clear enough space on the floor to permit of his lying down； albeit in a v