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." 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.