Jeffreys was full of righteous wrath on his behalf, and ran up a score against Scarfe which would have astonished that worthy, listlessly loafing about at Windsor, had he guessed it.
"I've promised to go and see the Boat Race with them," said Percy; "but you must come too.

I know you'll hate it, and so will they; but somehow I can't do without a little backing up." "I'll back you up, old fellow, all I can, I only wish," added he, for the boy's confidence in him humiliated him, "I had a better right to do it." "Why, Jeff, I don't suppose you ever did a bad thing in your life." "Don't say that," said Jeffreys almost appealingly, "I have!" The boy looked up at him, startled for a moment by his tone.

Then he said, with a return of his old look of confidence-- "Poor old Jeff! That's what makes you so blue sometimes.

If it weren't for you, I'd have a precious good right to be in the blues too." Jeffreys, who had not entered the house since his interview with Mrs Rimbolt, felt anything but comfortable as he again set foot within it; and had it not been for Percy's countenance, he would have felt it still more of an ordeal.
He had, however, plenty to occupy his mind during the hour or two which followed.

Mr Rimbolt was waiting for him eagerly, to hear all about the sale and the purchases which had been made.
"You've done a capital stroke of business for me, Jeffreys," said he, when the report had been concluded.