g him?"

"He has asked for you already; but auntie, I believe, would have a fit
if you went near him. She seems to consider you are his evil genius;
instead of being just the opposite. Tell me how Julius is--he went with
you, did he not?"

"I have been out this morning to bury Julius at the place where he
fell."

Raby, already unduly excited by the events of the past few days, broke
into tears, and at the same moment Scarfe, descending the stairs, stood
before them.

He looked first at Jeffreys, next at the girl. Then, taking her arm, he
said--

"What is the matter? May I take you downstairs?"

"Oh no," she cried, pushing away his hand, and dashing the tears from
her eyes.

"Mr Jeffreys, I am so sorry, do forgive me!" and she ran upstairs to
her own room.

Jeffreys and Scarfe stood facing one another.

"What is the meaning of this?" said the latter wrathfully.

"It would not interest you. I was telling Miss Atherton about my dog."

"Hang your dog! Did not I tell you that I did not choose for you to
obtrude yourself on Raby?"

"You did, and I should be sorry to obtrude myself on any one, whether
you choose it or not."

"You appear to forget, Cad Jeffreys--"

"I forget nothing--not even that I am keeping you from your breakfast."

And he quitted the scene.

Later in the morning, as he was working in the library, Mr Rimbolt
entered and greeted him cordially.

"Jeffreys, my dear fellow, you are constantly adding new claims on my
gratitude. What can I say to you now to thank you for your heroism
yesterday, about which Percy has just told us?"

"Pray say nothing, and discount Percy's story heavily, for he was the
hero. With his broken arm and in all the danger he never lost heart for
a moment."

"Yes, he is a brave boy, too. But I came now to tell you he is asking
for you. Will you come and see him?"

Jeffreys followed the father gratefully to the sick-chamber. At the
door he encountered Mrs Rimbolt, who, having evidently been present at
the boy's narrative, was pleased to regard him almost graciously, and,
delightfully ignoring the previous encounter, to wish him good morning.
Percy looked hot and feverish, but brightened up at once as he caught
sight of his protector.

"Hullo, old Jeff," said he, "isn't this all nonsense? They say I'm in
for a mild congestion, and shall have to stick in bed for a fortnight.
Just sit down; do you mind, and stay with me. You've pulled me through
so f