.

The Juggernaut.
Long shadows were stretching lazily athwart the lawn from the gnarled old giant trees.

Over the whole drowsing world brooded the solemn hush of late summer afternoon.
An amber light hung in the sleepy air; touching with gold the fire-blue lake, the circle of lovingly protecting green hills; the emerald slope which billowed up from the water-edge to the red-roofed gray house in its setting of ancient oaks.
On the bare flooring, in the coolest corner of the veranda, two collies lay sprawled.

They were fast asleep; which means that they were ready to come back to complete wakefulness at the first untoward sound.
Of the two slumbrous collies, one was slenderly graceful of outline; gold-and-white of hue.

She was Lady; imperious and temperamental wisp of thoroughbred caninity.
The second dog had been crowded out of the shadiest spot of the veranda, by his mate; so that a part of his burnished mahogany coat was under the direct glare of the afternoon sun.