I want to be at peace, with my books." "But don't you see that bloodshed is going on, and that these ruffians are making the place a desert ?" "Yes," said Sir Morton, "it is very tiresome.

I almost wish I had taken them into my service." "And made matters worse, for they would not have rested till you had made war upon the Edens." "Yes," said Sir Morton, "I suppose it would have been so." "Why not get the men quietly together some night, father, and if I went round, I'm sure I could collect a dozen who would come and help--men whose places have been robbed." "That's right, Ralph; there are people as much as twenty miles away-- twelve men?
Five-and-twenty, I'll be bound." "Well, I'll think about it," said Sir Morton; and when Master Rayburn walked home that day, Ralph bore him company part of the way, and chatted the matter over with him.
"I'm getting ashamed of your father, Ralph, lad.

He has plenty of weapons of war, and he could arm a strong party, and yet he does nothing." "I wish he would," said the lad.

"I don't like the idea of fighting, but I should like to see those rascals taken." "But you will not until your father is stirred up by their coming and making an attack upon your place." "Oh, they would not dare to do that," cried Ralph.
"What! why, they are growing more daring day by day; and mark my words, sooner or later they'll make a dash at the Castle, and plunder the place." "Oh!" ejaculated Ralph, as he thought of his sister.
"I wish they would," cried the old man angrily, "for I am sick of seeing such a state of things in our beautiful vales.

No one is safe.