And he had been very, very happy.
Now, in a breath, all this was changed.

Ever at his heels, ever waiting to find some new way to pester him, was a human too small and too weak to attack;--a human who was forever setting the collie's high-strung nerves on edge or else actively hurting him.

Lad could not understand it.

And as the child gained in health and strength, Lad's lot grew increasingly miserable.
The Mistress and the Master were keenly aware of conditions.

And they did their best,--a useless best,--to mitigate them for the dog.