And what build of man is he, Barbara?
Say he is not my size." "No, Phil dear; he is taller by a hand's breadth." "Ah," sighed Philip, with intense relief, "then it must be Rupert! Poor Rupert!" "Now," said Barbara, "forget all about it, and have a good holiday with the boys.

The evening is distant yet." "I wish it were here!" Phil exclaimed fervently as he ran off.
Philip at once sought out Rupert, and, slipping his hand into his arm, led him away from the others.

He wanted to break the news gently.
"I say, Rupert," he said, "you remember that crossbow of mine you wanted so much ?" Rupert remembered.
"Well, it is yours," said Philip.

"And I want you to ride Tiger oftener than you do." (Tiger was Philip's most prized horse.) Rupert was beginning to be mystified, but he could see that all this was but the preamble to something more important.
"And, Rupert," Philip continued, "you know how keen we all are to smash those Roundheads, don't you ?" Rupert knew.
"But it isn't always possible, you understand, for everyone to fight and be in the front, is it?
Some have to do quieter work where they are not seen, haven't they ?" Rupert agreed, a little impatiently.

"But Phil," he added, "what does all this mean?
What do you want me to do ?" "Well," said Philip, "I can't tell you everything; but to-night it may be necessary for some of us to ride to Portallan, and one to stay behind, and I thought I would try to make it easier for you to be the one to stay behind, that's all.