Twice he did this. Then, coming up to the Master, he caught the
latter's coat-hem lightly between his teeth and tugged on it as
he backed toward the tool-house.

"No, old friend," said the Master, petting the silken head so
appealingly upraised to him. "I know what you're getting at. But
I can't let her out. Tomorrow morning. Not till then. Come on up
to dinner."

Unwillingly and with wistful backward looks, Lad followed the
Mistress and the Master to the house and into the dining room and
to his wonted place on the floor at the Master's left side. But,
more than once during the meal, the man caught the collie's eyes
fixed on him in worried supplication; and was hard put to it not
to grant the plea which fairly clamored in his chum's mute gaze.

After dinner, when the Mistress and the Master set off on their
usual evening walk, Lad was not on hand to accompany them. As a
rule, he was all around them and in front and behind, in a series
of gay rushes, as they started on these walks. But not until the
Master called him, tonight, did he appear. And then he came up
dolorously from the tool-house.

Lad did not understand, at all, what was wrong. He knew only that
Lady had been shut up in a place she detested and that she was
horribly unhappy and that the Master would not let her out. It
perplexed him; and it made him increasingly wretched. Not only
did he miss his playfully capricious young mate, but her
unhappiness made him heartsick.