Ralph glanced at his father, who shrugged his shoulders and nodded, as much as to say, "Well, be off;" and the lad went out into the castle-yard, and then on to the little terrace where the new basin and fountain were looking bright and attractive, though still wanting in the fish Ralph was to have procured. Brother and sister sat down in a shady nook, and watched the glint of the river through the trees far below, looked over the lovely prospect of hill and dale; and finally Minnie's eyes rested upon the shoulder of the great shaley hill at whose foot the encounter with the disbanded soldiers had taken place. "When is father going to lead the men to drive out those dreadful people?" said the girl at last. "I don't know: soon, I hope. When I'm better." "Well, you are better, 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."