surprise when he saw who were standing on the mat.

'Why, dear me, dear me,' he said. 'Here you are! I have been wondering
what had happened to you. I was afraid that you might have been
seriously hurt. I was afraid those ruffians might have injured you.
When last I saw you, you were being--'

'Chivvied,' interposed Psmith, with dignified melancholy. 'Do not let
us try to wrap the fact up in pleasant words. We were being chivvied.
We were legging it with the infuriated mob at our heels. An ignominious
position for a Shropshire Psmith, but, after all, Napoleon did the
same.'

'But what happened? I could not see. I only know that quite suddenly
the people seemed to stop listening to me, and all gathered round you
and Jackson. And then I saw that Jackson was engaged in a fight with a
young man.'

'Comrade Jackson, I imagine, having heard a great deal about all men
being equal, was anxious to test the theory, and see whether Comrade
Bill was as good a man as he was. The experiment was broken off
prematurely, but I personally should be inclined to say that Comrade
Jackson had a shade the better of the exchanges.'

Mr Waller looked with interest at Mike, who shuffled and felt awkward.
He was hoping that Psmith would say nothing about the reason of his
engaging Bill in combat. He had an uneasy feeling that Mr Waller's
gratitude would be effusive and overpowering, and he did not wish to
pose as the brave young hero. There are moments when one does not feel
equal to the _role_.