“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. “Those three Caxtons I would not have missed for anything. I am quite glad that business will take me North next week, as I shall be able to run over to Wildtree and see some of the treasures unpacked. I shall, however, leave them for you finally to arrange when we all go back in June. You’ve seen Percy? I fancy he has been racketing rather too much with these friends of his; but I imagine Scarfe would see he went into no mischief. However, I am glad you have come back, for the boy’s sake, as you understand him. This summer I think you should take him a little run in Normandy or Switzerland. It would do him good, and you, too, to knock about abroad for a week or two. However, there’s time enough to talk about that. And I dare say you will be glad now to get a little rest after your journey.”
Jeffreys returned to his room very contentedly. The confidence Mr Rimbolt reposed in him was soothing to his spirits, and went far to obliterate the memory of that hideous interview last week.
Percy was out when, after washing and changing his travelling garb, he came down to the morning-room, which he usually occupied during the afternoon.
To his surprise, and even consternation, Raby was there, writing.
She rose, brightly, almost radiantly, as he entered.