But now she had a practical cause for her devotion.

Lad had stood between her and a fist blow.

He had risked, she knew not what, to defy her all-terrible father and to protect her from punishment.
As soon as she was out of Ruloff's sight, she set down her basket, and flung both puny arms about the dog's neck in an agony of gratitude.
Her squeeze almost strangled the weak old collie.

But there was love in it.

And because of that, he reveled in the hurt.
"You won't let him thump me!" she whispered in the dog's ear.