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.
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