At first he seemed to regard it doubtfully, and combated it by one or two modest protestations.

Then, becoming more used to the idea, it pleased him to talk a little about the adventure, and encourage the others to recall the scene.

After that it seemed natural to him to be a little languid and done-up by his exertions, and, as a hero, to establish a claim on Raby's admiration.

And finally, being quite convinced he was a hero of the first water, he regarded Jeffreys with condescension, and felt a little surprise that he should remain both silent and apparently disdainful.
As Raby was beforehand with her in blaming herself, the wind was taken out of Mrs Rimbolt's sails in that quarter, even had she been disposed to let out in that direction.

But it was so much more convenient and natural to blame Jeffreys, that the good lady was never in a moment's doubt upon the subject.
"How excessively careless of him!" said she; "the very one of the party, too, whom we expected to keep out of danger.