All this was a matter of development, and took time.Next in his regard, after the children, was Judge Scott.There were two reasons, possibly, for this.First, he was evidently a valuable possession of the master's, and next, he was undemonstrative.White Fang liked to lie at his feet on the wide porch when he read the newspaper, from time to time favoring White Fang with a look or a word -- untroublesome tokens that he recognized White Fang's presence and existence.But this was only when the master was not around.When the master appeared, all other beings ceased to exist so far as White Fang was concerned.
White Fang allowed all the members of the family to pet him and make much of him; but he never gave to them what he gave to the master.No caress of theirs could put the love-croon into his throat, and, try as they would, they could never persuade him into snuggling against them.This expression of abandon and surrender, of absolute trust, he reserved for the master alone.In fact, he never regarded the members of the family in any other light than possessions of the love-master.
Also White Fang had early come to differentiate between the family and the servants of the household.The latter were afraid of him, while he merely refrained from attacking them.This because he considered that they were likewise possessions of the master.Between White Fang and them existed a neutrality and no more.They cooked for the master and washed the dishes and did other things, just as Matt had done up in the Klondike.They were, in short, appurtenances of the household.
Outside the household there was even more for White Fang to learn.The master's domain was wide and complex, yet it had its metes and bounds.
The land itself ceased at the county road.Outside was the common domain of all gods -- the roads and streets.Then inside other fences were the particular domains of other gods.A myriad laws governed all these things and determined conduct; yet he did not know the speech of the gods, nor was there any way for him to learn save by experience.He obeyed his natural impulses until they ran him counter to some law.When this had been done a few times, he learned the law and after that observed it.