"
"So I am to have the credit of having saved your life?" he said.
"You needn't put it that way," she answered, as she took up the
fishing-rod and resumed her homeward walk. "All kinds of accidents are
continually happening to people who go salmon-fishing, and no one takes
any notice of them. My maid is quite used to getting my things
dried--whether they're soaked through with rain or with river-water
doesn't much matter to her. And old Robert can take your clothes to the
fire in the gun-room long before the gentlemen come back from the hill.
So, you see, there will probably be no questions asked; but, if there
should be, you have what is quite enough of an explanation."
"Well, Miss Honnor," said he, "I never heard of such a friendly act in
all my life--such a gratuitous sacrifice; here you have risked getting
your death of cold in order to save my childish vanity from being
wounded. Really, I don't know how to thank you--though I wish all the
same you had not put me under such a tremendous obligation. But don't
imagine that I am going to claim--that I am going to steal--the credit
of having saved your life--I am not quite so mean--no, if I am asked, I
will tell the whole truth--"
"And make two people ridiculous, instead of one?" she said, with a
smile.
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