[Gutenberg 22656] • Red Cap Tales, Stolen from the Treasure Chest of the Wizard of the North

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ... for breakfast every morning? Because it jolly well can't get it." "Well, at any rate," said I, severely," girls oughtn't to want to play the villains' parts." "No," said Sweetheart, with still, concentrated irony, "they ought always to do just what boys tell them to, of course--never think of wanting anything that boys want, and always be thankful for boys' leavings! U-m-m! / know!" "You should wait till you hear what I meant to say, Sweetheart," I went on, with as much dignity as I could muster. "There are plenty of characters you will like to be, in every one of the books, but I think it would be fair always to draw lots for the first choice!" "Yes--yes--oh, yes!" came the chorus, from three of the party. But Hugh John, strong in the indefeasible rights of man, only repeated, "/ said 'Bags Hatteraick!'" "Well, then," I said, "for this time Hatteraick is yours, but for the future it will be fairer to draw lots for first choice." "All right," growled Hugh John; "then I suppose I'll have to put up with a lot more heroes! Milksops, I call them!" "Which book shall we have next?" said Sweetheart, who was beginning to be rather ashamed of her heat. "I don't believe that you could tell us Rob Roy!" "Well, I can try," said I, modestly. For so it behooves a modern parent to behave in the presence of his children. "She" said Hugh John, pointing directly at his sister, "she read nearly half the book aloud, and we never came to Rob at all. That's why she asks for Rod Roy." "But there's all about Alan Breck in the preface--ripping, it is!" interpolated Sir Toady, who had been doing some original research, "tell us about him." But Alan Breck was quite another story, and I said so at once. Rob Roy they had asked for. Rob Roy they should have. And then I would...