ustodian of
Percy, and on that account showed off before him, and demonstrated to
Percy that he was no custodian of theirs. They freely discussed his
ugliness and poverty within earshot. They patronised him without stint,
and made a display of their own affluence in his presence. And when
once or twice he put down his foot and interdicted some illegal
proceeding, they blustered rudely, and advised Percy to get the cad
dismissed.

It was like some of the old Bolsover days back again, only with the
difference that now he steeled himself to endure all patiently for young
Forrester's sake. It disappointed him to see Percy, led away by his
company, sometimes lift his heel against him; yet it suited his humour
to think it was only right, and a part of his penance, it should be so.
Percy's revolt, to do that youth justice, was short-lived and speedily
repented of. As soon as his friends were gone he returned to Jeffreys
with all his old allegiance, and showed his remorse by forgetting all
about his recent conduct.

Perhaps the most trying incident in all that trying time to Jeffreys was
what occurred on the last day of the Brothertons' visit. The colonel
and his family had been so busy seeing the natural beauties of Wildtree,
that, till their visit was drawing to an end, they found they had
scarcely done justice to the beautiful house itself, and what it
contained. Consequently the last evening was spent in a visit _en
masse_ to the library where Jeffreys was duly summoned to assist Mr
Rimbolt in exhibiting the treasures it contained.

As usual when the lady of the house was of the party, the librarian went
through his work awkwardly. He answered her questions in a confused
manner, and contrived to knock over one or two books in his endeavour to
reach down others. He was conscious that some of the company were
including him among the curiosities of the place, and that Mr Rimbolt
himself was disappointed with the result of the exhibition. He
struggled hard to pull himself together, and in a measure succeeded
before the visit was over, thanks chiefly to Mrs Rimbolt's temporary
absence from the library. The lady returned to announce that coffee was
ready in the drawing-room, and Jeffreys, with a sigh of relief,
witnessed a general movement towards the door.

He was standing rather dismally near the table, counting the seconds
till he should be left alone, when Mrs Brotherton advanced to him with
outstretched hand.