"Please, sir," said the loyal Dicky, "I lugged him on a good part of the way." "No, you didn't," snarled I--taking this as a taunt, whereas it was intended as a "leg-up"--"I came of my own accord." "Very well," said Mr Sharpe. "You will come to me, Jones iv., of my accord"--and he walked away. I was reckless and defiant, and deaf to Dicky's sympathy. "I don't care," said I. "It was a good job for you he came up. I should have licked you hollow." "No, you wouldn't, old chap; I had you over twice," said Dicky. "Come outside and finish it out." So we adjourned to the other side of the palings and finished it out in the presence of the assembled Urbans and Philosophers. And I grieve to say once more Dicky had me on my back. The wrath of my comrades was even more grievous to bear than the rejoicings of the enemy. I was promptly withdrawn from the fray as a bad lot, and had it not been for the opportune bell, should probably have been kicked all round. At any rate, I went in disgusted with myself, with Low Heath, with everybody. What was the use of keeping it up? Tempest, ten to one, was expelled. Dicky Brown, once my inferior, could put me on my back. The Philosophers hated me. Mr Sharpe had marked me down for exemplary punishment, and publicly denounced me as the worst boy in the house. And all this in a single term. What, I wondered, would it be like, if I remained, at the end of a second term? I looked dismally into Tempest's study--he was not back. Pridgin was in, but did not want me. The faggery just now was impossible. I never felt more lonely and miserable in my life. I was wandering down the passage, with my jacket flung over my shoulder and my shirt sleeves still tucked up, when the voice of Crofter stopped me. "Look here," said he, "the contents of your pocket may be interesting to you, but we don't want them littered about the passage. Here, catch hold," and he held out a handful of loose letters. "Why, what's the matter? How blue you look! Has any one been hurting you?" "Rather not. I've been licking a young cad, that's all." "Well, you don't look as if you enjoyed it, anyhow. Has Tempest come back?" "No--probably he's expelled," said I, determined to have things as miserable as possible. "I sincerely hope not," said Crofter, in a tone which quite softened me to him. "He doesn't like me, but I'd be sorry if he left, all the same." "He thinks you and Jarman would like to see him kicked out. That's the one reason why he might stay on." Crofter laughed sweetly. "What a notion! Why, I've had a good mind to go to England myself and stick up for him." "It's a good job you haven't," said I. "What I'm afraid is, that he is worried about other things. I hope, by the way, you never said anything about what I told you the other day." "No," said I, not quite candidly. For I had tried to tell Tempest, but he would not let me. "That's right. I hope he's cleared his debts off by now."