def deref
      derefed = instance.deref
      if derefed.object_id == instance.object_id
        self
      else
        self.class.new(derefed, ancestor: @ancestor)
      end
    end
def deref
      derefed = instance.deref
      if derefed.object_id == instance.object_id
        self
      else
        self.class.new(derefed, ancestor: @ancestor)
      end
    end
if this JSI is a $ref then the $ref is followed. otherwise this JSI
 is returned.

 @return [JSI::Base, self]