Rupert refused to see the barge-master when he called to ask after Henrietta; he was vexed because people made a fuss about the affair, and when Rupert was vexed he was not gracious.  When Henrietta got better, however, she said, “We ought to see old Rowe and thank him for his kindness to Charlie;” so the next time he called, we all went into the housekeeper’s room to see him.

He was very much pleased and excited, which always seemed to make him inclined to preach.  He set forth the noble motives which must have moved Rupert and Henrietta to their heroic conduct in the emergency, so that I felt more proud of them than ever.  But Rupert frowned, and said, “Nonsense, Rowe, I’m sure I never thought anything of the kind.  I don’t believe we either of us thought anything at all.”

But Mr. Rowe had not served seventeen years in the Royal Navy to be put down when he expounded a point of valour.

“That’s where it is, Master Rupert,” said he.  “It wouldn’t have been you or Miss Henrietta either if you had.  ‘A man overboard,’ says you—­that’s enough for one of your family, sir. They never stops to think ‘Can I swim?’ but in you goes, up the stairs that wouldn’t hold the weight of a new-born babby, and right through the raging flames.”

“Oh, dear!” cried Henrietta, “that’s just what Cook and all kinds of people will say.  But it was the front stairs that were on fire.  We only went up the back stairs, and they weren’t burning at all.”

The barge-master smiled in reply.  But it was with the affability of superior knowledge, and I feel quite sure that he always told the story (and believed it) according to his impossible version.

It was on the third day after the fire that our cousin called at the Crown.  He had never been to see us before, and, as I have said, we had never been to the Castle.  But the next day he sent a close carriage for Henrietta and my mother, and a dog-cart for Rupert and me, and brought us up to the Castle.  We were there for three months.

It was through him that Rupert went to those baths abroad, which cured his knee completely.  And then, because my mother could not afford to do it, he sent him to a grander public school than Dr. Jessop’s old grammar school, and Mr. Johnson sent Thomas Johnson there too, for Tom could not bear to be parted from Rupert, and his father never refused him anything.

But what I think was so very kind of our cousin was his helping me.  Rupert and Henrietta had been a credit to the family, but I deserved nothing.  I had only run away in the mean hope of outshining them, and had made a fool of myself, whilst they had been really great in doing their duty at home.  However, he did back me up with Mother about going to sea, and got me on board the training-ship Albion; and my highest hope is to have the chance of bringing my share of renown to my father’s name, that his cousin may never regret having helped me to my heart’s desire.