"Never mind: you acted bravely; and he like a roused wolf's cub, as Nick Garth called him." "Felt humbled," said Ralph thoughtfully. "Yes, my boy. Well, it's all over; but don't go risking your life again for your enemies. We don't want to quarrel with them unless they force it on, and I'm afraid they are going to, for I believe Eden has enlisted that gang of ruffians in his service. I can't hear that they were seen to go away." Mark Eden told his father too, about the incident, and Sir Edward looked very grave. "As the lad was a Darley, matters are different," he said at last, "and I don't like your conduct over the matter, Mark. To begin with--well, to go all through the business, you did wrong." "Yes, father," said the lad bitterly. "It was not right for you, a young scholar, and a gentleman, to go upon their land and invite a quarrel." "But I wanted the young ravens, father." "Yes. And they want my lead-mine; and if young Darley comes to try and take it, I hope you'll break his neck." "Yes, father." "But you did not come out well, my boy," said Sir Edward irritably. "The young cub has some good in him, and he behaved splendidly." "Yes, father; that made me feel so mad against him, and all the time I was feeling as if I would have given anything to shake hands, for he was very brave." "Well, it would have been, if he had not been a Darley." "And, of course, I could not shake hands and say thank you to a boy like him." "Shake hands--an Eden with a Darley! Impossible, my boy, impossible. There, it's all over, and you must never give them the opportunity of insulting you again. That family has done us endless injury." "And we've done them a deal, too, father." "Yes, my boy, as much as ever we could. I mean in the old days; for I'm beginning to think that it's best to let them go their way, if they let us go ours." "Yes, father." "I wish they lived on the other side of the county, instead of so near. But there, promise me that you will not run foul of any of the savages again." "Yes, father, I promise you," said the lad quietly. "By the way, Mark, you say young Darley had half-a-dozen ruffianly fellows with him, and they wanted to stone you, and then throw you off the cliff?" "Yes, father." "Do you think any of them were part of the rough crew who came here with that red-faced captain?" "I think not, father." "I'm afraid they went to Sir Morton Darley; so we must be watchful. Let that other trouble drop now, and be careful for the future. Don't worry me now; Rugg wants to see me about the mining accounts. Keep out of mischief, and don't let me hear any more about young Darley." Mark promised, and went out with the intention of going down the river to see old Master Rayburn, and ask him whether he had received the egg. But before he had gone far, the memories of the whole business seemed so distasteful, and he felt so much annoyed with himself, that he turned back.