savoured of presumption.

This family had, for purposes of combat and of general entertainment,
divided itself into two factions, that fought endlessly among the
woods and shrubberies. A method had been recently introduced by
Richard of utilising the harmless, necessary pocket-handkerchief as a
sling for the projection of gravel, and its instant popularity had
resulted in the denuding of the avenues of ammunition, and in arousing
a great and just fury in the bosom of the laundress. "God knows it
isn't me has all the hankershiffs holed this way!" she pointed out.
"Thim children is the divil outlawed. Thim'd gallop the woods all the
night, like the deer!"

The assortment of the family had been decided rather on the basis of
dignity, than on that of a desire to equalise the sides, and thus it
befel that Richard, Judith, and John, with the style and title of The
Elder Statesmen, were accustomed to drive before them the junior
faction of The Brats, consisting of the Twins, Christian, and the
dogs, Rinka and Tashpy, with a monotony of triumph that might have
been expected to pall, had not variety been imparted by the invention
of the punishments that were inflicted upon prisoners. There had been
a long and hot July day of notable warfare. The Twins, if small,
were swift and wily; even Christian had justified her adoption by
a stealthy and successful raid upon the opposition gravel heap. A
long and savage series of engagements had ensued, that alternated
between flights, and what Christian, blending recollections of
nursery doctoring with methods of Indian warfare, designated
"stomach-attacks." It was while engaged in one of the latter forms
of assault that Christian was captured, and, being abandoned by her
comrades, was haled by the captors before Richard, the Eldest