The ruse did not fool him, any more than it would have deceived a grown man.

And his feelings were cruelly hurt at every instance of this seeming defection on the part of his two worshiped human chums.
"He still enjoys life," mused the Master, one day in late summer, as he and the Mistress sat on the veranda, with Lad asleep at their feet.
"And he can still get about a bit.

His appetite is good, and he drowses happily for a good deal of the day; and the car-rides are still as much fun for him as ever they were.

But when the time comes--and he's breaking fast, these past few months--when the time comes that life is a misery to him--" "I know," interposed the Mistress, her voice not quite steady.

"I know.
Do you suppose I haven't been thinking about it, on the hot nights when I couldn't sleep?
But, when the time comes--when it comes--you'll--you'll do it, yourself, won't you ?" "Yes," promised the Master, miserably.