Sir Morton looked up at his son, and then down at his book, as if expecting to find an answer to the question there. Then he coughed to clear his voice, cleared it, and coughed again, which was perfectly unnecessary. But still the answer did not come. Finally, he replied: "Well, you see, my boy, we always have been at enmity with them." "Yes, I know, ever since my great, great, ever so great, grandfather's time." "Exactly Ralph. That's it, my boy." "But what was the beginning of it?" "The beginning of it--er--the--er--commencement of it--er--the family feud. Well--er--it was something in the way of oppression, as I have told you before. A great injury inflicted by the Edens upon the Darleys. But it will not do your arm any good to be fidgeting about that. I want it to heal. That can be healed; but our family feud never can." "Why not, father?" "Why not? Oh, because it is contrary to nature, boy. What a question, when you are suffering now from the way in which the deadly hatred of the Edens comes out! Are you not wounded by a scion of the vile house?" "Yes, father; but then young Eden is suffering too in the same way, and I think he got the worst of it." "I'm glad of it, Ralph. I think you behaved very bravely." "What; in fighting the robbers?" "I did not mean that. I meant in defending yourself," said Sir Morton austerely. "There, that will do: I want to go on studying this book." But Ralph was fidgety from the state of his wound, and went on again. "Couldn't the old trouble be settled by law?" "Pooh, boy! As I have told you before, the law does not reach here among these mountainous wilds. I am the law here. I could settle the matter; but that man Eden would never agree to what I said." "And I suppose, father, that you would never agree to what he considered was the proper law." "Certainly not, Ralph," said Sir Morton impatiently. "But why are you going on like this?" "Because I was thinking again how easy it would be if you and Sir Edward Eden were to join and attack that Captain Purlrose and his men. You would be able to drive the gang out of the neighbourhood." "I shall be able to drive this fellow out of the district, my boy, without the help of the Edens, who ought to be driven out too, for they are very little better than Captain Purlrose and his men. Stop, sir; what are you going to do?" "Go out, father. It's so dull sitting here." "You had better stay in: the sun is hot, and you have been rather feverish. I want you to grow quite well." "So do I, father," said the lad, smiling. "Then do what Master Rayburn advised you. Keep perfectly quiet." "But it is such weary work doing nothing, father. I'm sure I should get better if I were out in the fresh air. Ah, there is Minnie;" for just then his sister came to the open window, and looked in. "Why don't you come out and sit in the shade here, Ralph?" she said. "Come and read with me."