Rotha's eyes brightened, and she hastened to the door and hailed him.
"Father," she said, when Sim had followed her into the house, "you made a great journey for Ralph awhile ago; could you make another now ?" "What has happened?
Do they rype the country with yon warrant still ?" asked Sim.
"Worse than that," said Rotha.

"If that were all, we could leave Ralph to settle with them; they would never serve their warrant, never." "Worse; what's worse, lass ?" said Sim, changing color.
"Outlawry," said Rotha.
"What's that, girl ?--what's outlawry ?--nothing to do with--with--with Wilson, has it ?" said Sim, speaking beneath his breath, and in quick and nervous accents.
"No, no: not that.

It means that unless Ralph is delivered up within fourteen days this place will be taken by the bailiffs of the Sheriff." "And what of that ?" said Sim.

"Let them take it--better let them have it than Ralph fall into their hands." "Father, poor Mistress Ray would be turned into the roads--they'd have no pity, none." "I'll uphod thee that's true," said Sim.

"It staggers me." "We must find Ralph, and at once too," said Rotha.
"Find him?
He's gone, but Heaven knows where." "Father, if I were a man, I'd find him, God knows I would." "It's nigh about the worst as could have happened, it is," said Sim.
"The worst will be to come if we do not find him." "But how?
where?
Following him will be the rule o' thumb," said Sim.
"You said he took the road over the Raise," said Rotha.