The Virgin in Judgment

Elias and his boys and girls did the whole work of Ditsworthy. All had their duties and even the youngest children-twin sons now aged nine-were taught to make netting and help with the traps. There were six sons and three daughters in the family; and the males were called after mighty captains because Elias loved valour above all virtues. Such friendships as happen in large families existed among the children and the closest and keenest of these associations was that between the eldest boy and second girl. David Bowden was eight-and-twenty and Rhoda was twenty-one. A very unusual fraternity obtained between them and the man's welfare meant far more to his sister than any other mundane interest. After David came Joshua the master of the trappers aged twenty-five; and he and the eldest girl Sophia-a widow who had returned childless and moneyless to her home after two years of married life-were sworn friends.