whether Albert would ever live to grow into a man; and of late I have been
gladdened at seeing so great a change in him, though I dreamed not of the
cause."

Aline had stood open-mouthed while her father was speaking, and now stole
up to Albert's side.

"I am pleased, brother," she said. "May I tell them now what happened the
other day with the black bull, you charged me to say nothing about?"

"What is this about the black bull, Aline?" her father said, as he caught
the words.

"It was naught, sir," Albert replied, colouring, "save that the black bull
in the lower meadow ran at us, and I frightened him away."

"No, no, father," the girl broke in, "it was not that at all. We were
walking through the meadow together when the black bull ran at us. Albert
said to me, 'Run, run, Aline!' and I did run as hard as I could; but I
looked back for some time as I ran, being greatly terrified as to what
would come to Albert. He stood still. The bull lowered his head and rushed
at him. Then he sprang aside just as I expected to see him tossed into the
air, caught hold of the bull's tail as it went past him and held on till
the bull was close to the fence, and then he let go and scrambled over,
while the bull went bellowing down the field."

"Well done, well done!" Sir Ralph said. "Why, Albert, it seems marvellous
that you should be doing such things; that black bull is a formidable
beast, and the strongest man, if unarmed, might well feel discomposed if
he saw him coming rushing at him. I will wager that if you had not had