And Laddie let everyone in sight know it was not fair; and that he had no intention of being petted into a good humor. Still, when, by and by, the Mistress sat down on the floor beside him and told him what a darling and wonderful and heroic dog he was and how proud she felt of his courage, and when her dear hand rumpled the soft hair behind his ears,--well, somehow Lad found himself laying his head in her lap; and making croony low sounds at her and pretending to bite her little white hand. It was always hard to stay offended at the Mistress..