The end of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi includes the following:
`He saved our lives and Teddy's life,'' she said to her husband. ``Just
think, he saved all our lives!''
Rikki-tikki woke up with a jump, for all the mongooses are light sleepers.
``Oh, it's you,'' said he. ``What are you bothering for? All the cobras are
dead; and if they weren't, I'm here.''
Rikki-tikki had a right to be proud of himself; but he did not grow too
proud. . .
This shows that even though Teddy's mother believes it was a heroic feat to kill Nag and Nagaina, he acts like it's no big deal. The last sentence literally says that he wasn't proud (a synonym of boastful or conceited) even though he had a right to be.
