"Six of one and half-a-dozen of the other," said the old man; "and all due to the evil teaching of their masters, my dear old friend. Come, Darley, it's of no use to cry over spilt milk; the boys have set their fathers a splendid example, and driven in the thin end of the wedge. The sooner you and Eden send it home the better." "I must try again." "Of course. I don't ask you to make friends. It would be absurd; but you must stir now, and I shall tell Eden the same, and that he cannot for very shame leave the work undone that his son has begun. Ralph, lad, you go to bed, and sleep all day. I am doctor enough to insist to your father that you are not to be disturbed. I must go up to the Black Tor at once, for I suppose I am badly wanted there." The old man hurried away with the remainder of his bandages, and Sir Morton signed to his son, who followed him to the room into which Captain Purlrose had been ushered. "Now, Ralph," began Sir Morton, but his son interrupted him: "Guilty, father," he cried dismally, "and I have failed." "There, do as Master Rayburn said," cried Sir Morton, "and--well--I'll talk to you another time--I'm--er--I'm not very angry, my boy, but-- there, be off. It was very brave, and like a soldier's son." "I wonder what Mark Eden's father has said to him," thought Ralph as he threw himself wearily upon his bed. CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. A CURE FOR THE HEADACHE. Master Rayburn was anxiously expected at the Black Tor, Mark's first act having been to send Dummy Rugg down to his cottage to ask him to come up; and not finding him there, the boy had very bravely followed him to Cliff Castle, in the full belief that he would be there, and on learning that he was, he sent a message in, and then hurried away. Matters went on in a very similar way at the Tor, even to Sir Edward accidentally finding that something was wrong, and going to the building at the entrance to the mine, where the wounded men were being attended. But he did not take matters in the same spirit as his inimical neighbour, but attacked his old friend furiously, vowed that he would never forgive him, and threatened his son with the severest punishment, though he did not say what. Master Rayburn said nothing, but went on dressing the men's wounds, till, regularly worked up into a perfect fury, Sir Edward turned upon him again. "This ends everything between us, Master Rayburn," he cried. "I have treated you as a friend, made you welcome at my table, and allowed my son to make you a kind of companion; but now, have the goodness to recollect that we are strangers, and if the gang from out of the cavern yonder attack you, get out of the trouble in the best way you can, for you will have no help from me." "Very well," said Master Rayburn quietly. "And now, sir, leave my place at once." "Oh no!" said the old man quietly, as Mark looked on, scarlet with annoyance, but feeling that he must suffer for what had happened.