and on the child again during his period of employment there. The
Place's English superintendent had promised like treatment to the man,
should he catch him ill treating Sonya.

Wherefore, Ruloff had perforce curbed his parental urgings toward
violence;--at least during the hours when he and the child were on the
Place.

Sonya was an engaging little thing; and the Mistress had made a pet of
her. So had the Master. But the youngster's warmest friend was old
Sunnybank Lad.

From the first day of Sonya's advent in his life, Lad had constituted
himself her adorer and constant companion.

Always his big heart had gone out to children; as to everything weak
and defenseless. Not always had his treatment at the hands of children
encouraged this feeling of loving chivalry and devotion. But Sonya was
an exception. Whenever she could steal a minute of time, away from her
father's glum eyes and nagging voice and ready fist, she would seek out
Lad.

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.

"I wish we could arrange to take her away from that brute of a father
of hers, and keep her here," said the Mistress. "It's horrible to think
of such a helpless wisp of a baby being beaten and made to work, day
and night. And then she and Laddie love each other so. They--"

"What can we do?" asked the Master, hopelessly. "I've spoken to the
village authorities about it. But it seems the law can't interfere;
unless