His father and mother did not seem to notice that he had been long away. They were still sitting together on the sofa. John Lester looked at his son with a glance at once tender and proud.
"Come here, old chap," he said. He put his hand on Dick's shoulder, gripping it tightly.
"Mother has been telling me," he said, and stopped; something seemed to make speech not easy. "About your swim after that small boy. I'm proud of my son, Dick."
Dick reddened furiously.
"Oh, it wasn't anything," he mumbled. "A chap couldn't see the poor kid go in, and not go after him."
"No, of course you couldn't. Still I'm glad you thought quickly—and moved quickly. Was it very cold?
"Oh, beastly!" said Dick, with a reminiscent shiver. "You couldn't imagine how cold, father! I didn't seem to be able to kick or do anything, after the first minute. I thought I could just swim back to the ship with him, as easy as wink, but my word, I couldn't!"
"A good thing you didn't have to try," said John Lester, his grip on Dick's shoulder tightening. "Well, all's well that ends well, anyhow. Now how about getting up to Perth?"
Dick hesitated.
"Could I have a look round the ship first, father?"