you must be to see the back of them," said Percy.

"I am glad," responded Jeffreys honestly.

"I'm not so frightfully sorry," said Percy. "Scarfe's a jolly enough
chap, but he's up to too many dodges, don't you know? And he's dead on
Raby, too. Quite as dead as you are, Jeff."

"Percy, a fortnight's congestion has not cured you of the bad habit of
talking nonsense," said Jeffreys.

"All very well, you old humbug, but you know you are, aren't you?"

"Your cousin is very good and kind, and no one could help liking her.
Everybody is `dead on her,' as you call it, even Walker."

Percy enjoyed this, and allowed himself to be led off the dangerous
topic. He was allowed to sit up for the first time this day, and held a
small _levee_ in his room.

Jeffreys took the opportunity to escape for a short time to the library,
which he had scarcely been in since the day on the mountain.

He knew Mrs Rimbolt would enjoy her visit to the sick-chamber better
without him, and he decidedly preferred his beloved books to her
majestic society.

Percy, however, was by no means satisfied with the arrangement.

"Where's old Jeff?" said he presently, when his mother, Raby, and he
were left alone. "Raby, go and tell Jeff, there's a brick. You can bet
he's in the library. Tell him if he means to cut me dead, he might
break it gently."

"Raby," said Mrs Rimbolt, as her niece, with a smile, started on his
majesty's errand, "I do not choose for you to go looking about for Mr
Jeffreys. There is a bell in the room, and Walker can do it if
required. It is unseemly in a young lady."

"One would think old Jeff was a wild beast or a nigger by the way you
talk," said Percy complainingly. "All I know is, if it hadn't been for
him, you'd all have been in deep mourning now, instead of having tea up
here with me."

"It is quite possible, Percy," said his mother, "for a person--"

"Person!" interrupted the boy. "Jeff's not a person; he's a gentleman.
As good as any of us, only he hasn't got so much money."

"I fear, Percy, your illness has not improved your good manners. I wish
to say that Mr Jeffreys may have done you service--"

"I should think he has," interrupted the irrepressible one.

"But it by no means follows that he is a proper companion for a good
innocent boy like you."

Percy laughed hilariously.

"Really, ma, you are coming it strong. Do you see my blushes, Raby?"

"You must make up your mind to see a great deal