“We have met before, I think,” said Aunt Caroline, grimly.
“Wasn’t it brave of him?” said Muffin.
“Mr. Lascelles,” said Aunt Caroline, “you appear to have acted in a prompt and courageous manner, and I congratulate you upon your manly conduct.”
“Thank you, Lady Crewkerne,” said Jim, with excellent gravity, “but I am happy to say Miss Perry has greatly exaggerated the occurrence.”
“Oh, no, Jim,” said Miss Perry. “Ask Goose.”
“There is one thing, Mr. Lascelles,” said the mistress of Pen-y-Gros Castle, “that I hope you will take to heart. In future the public will be strictly forbidden to climb the Devil’s Footstool.”
“I think that precaution will be in its interests,” said Jim. “It is all right going up, but it is a wicked place coming down.”
“Well, Mr. Lascelles,” said Lady Crewkerne, “it is satisfactory to learn that this injudicious adventure has terminated without loss of life. I shall be glad if you will dine at the Castle this evening.”
Jim Lascelles was sufficiently mollified by the tone to accept the invitation.
“And for my part,” said Jim, after he had done so, “I shall be glad, Lady Crewkerne, if you will accept an apology for my behavior the last time we met. I am afraid I was very much in the wrong.”