It was bad enough before, with the petty contemptible jealousies of your two families, and the fightings between your men.

But that was peace compared to what is going on now." "Don't talk like that, Master Rayburn," said Ralph warmly.

"I don't like you to allude to my father as you do." "I must speak the truth, boy," said the old man.

"You feel it now; but some day, when you are a man grown, and your old friend has gone to sleep, and is lying under the flowers and herbs and trees that he loved in life, you will often think of his words, and that he was right." Ralph was silent.
"I am not a man of war, my boy, but a man of peace.

All the same, though, whenever either your father or young Mark Eden's arms his men to drive these ruffians out of our land, I am going to gird on my old sword, which is as bright and sharp as ever, to strike a blow for the women and children.