"Mr Jeffreys, as we are not likely to be amused by your levity--" "Excuse me, madam, I am quite serious," said Jeffreys, on whom the apparent jocularity of his last remark had suddenly dawned; "I had no intention of being rude, or treating your question as a joke." "Then," said Mrs Rimbolt, slightly appeased in the prospect of gaining her object, "when I tell you Mrs Scarfe is kind enough to desire to hear about the accident from your own lips, perhaps your good manners will permit you to tell her about it." "Get upon the chair and give us a speech, Jeff," said the irrepressible Percy; "that's what ma wants." Jeffreys proceeded to give his version of the affair, distributing the credit of his rescue in the order in which he considered it to be due, and greatly disappointing both Mrs Rimbolt and her guest by his evident blindness to the heroism of Scarfe.

He acknowledged warmly Percy's readiness to come to his help, and his promptitude in going for the ladder, and he did full justice to Julius's share in the affair.

As to Scarfe's part, he stated just what had happened, without emotion and without effusiveness.
He despised himself for feeling so chilly on the subject, and would have been glad, for Mrs Scarfe's sake, had he felt more warmly his obligations to her son.

But he spoke as he felt.
"You have had a narrow escape from a watery grave," said Mrs Scarfe, anxious to sum up in the hero's favour, "and my son, I am sure, is thankful to have been the means of saving your life." Jeffreys bowed.
"I am glad he escaped falling in," said he.
"He had no thought of himself, I am sure," said Mrs Rimbolt severely, "and claims no thanks beyond that of his good conscience." "We're going to get him a Royal Humane medal, Jeff," added Percy; "a lot of fellows get it for a good deal less." "I hope he may get one," said Jeffreys.

"You and Julius should have one, too.