etter, Ralph."

"That's what I told father. Only a bit sore. I'm sick of being coddled
up."

"That's because you are a boy. You are never happy unless you are in
the open-air."

"You would not be, if you were a boy," said Ralph sharply.

"Well, I don't know that I am, even as a girl. It's dreadful. You
know, father has given orders that I am not to go outside the walls. No
walks, no rides; and my poor pony looked so reproachfully at me. Wants
to go out as badly as I do. Don't you think it's being too particular?"

"Well, no, Min," said Ralph thoughtfully. "While those men are about, I
don't think you ought to go out alone."

"Now, Ralph," said the girl, pouting, "you're as bad as father. I
declare you are not a bit like a nice, brave, merry boy now. You used
to be; but ever since you've been at that great school you have been
growing more and more serious, till you are getting to be quite an old
man."

"And quite grey," said Ralph drily.

"It only wants that," said the girl, with a merry laugh. "I declare
that old Master Rayburn has more fun in him than you."

"Wouldn't say so if you had been wounded, and had him to pull the
bandages about."

"What nonsense! he said I was to come and see him as soon as ever I
could."

"And you can't go and see him. He wouldn't advise you to go out while
those ruffians are yonder."

"No," replied the girl, smiling frankly. "He said I must wait till the
wasps' nest had been burned out, and I suppose he meant the cave where
those men are. Oh, I wish I were a man, and could go and fight the
wretches. They've been robbing and frightening people in all
directions. They even went last night and frightened old Mistress
Garth, Nick's mother, and took away her bag of meal."

"They did that!" cried Ralph angrily. "How do you know?"

"Nick told me, and he says he means to kill the captain first time they
meet."

"Nick says so?"

"Yes; but I suppose it's only boasting. I don't think he's very brave,
is he?"

"Don't know," said Ralph thoughtfully. "But it's quite time something
was done."

"And it was so funny, Ralph," continued the girl; "he actually said to
me that he didn't care a bit for his mother, for she has the worst
temper of any one he knows, and is always scolding when he goes to see
her; but he won't have any one interfere with her, and he'll kill that
captain for stealing the meal-bag as sure as he's alive."

"Well, it shows he's a good son,