Anyone could see his feelings were deeply hurt.

And anyone who knew Lad could tell why.
He had borne the brunt of the fight.

And, at the last, these lesser dogs had won the victory without his aid.

Still worse, his beloved Mistress,--for whom he had so blithely staked his aged life,--the Mistress had held him back by force from joining in the delirious last phases of the battle.

She had made him stand tamely by, while others finished the grand work he had begun.
It was not fair.