And he began to dip his sculls again in the water. "No," said I, "I want to come in your boat, Tempest." "Come along, then;" and he backed his stern up towards me. Crofter made no further protest; but greeted my desertion with a mellifluous laugh, which made me more uncomfortable than a storm of objurgations. Tempest said nothing, but dug his blades viciously in the water, and spun away with grim face and clenched teeth. For a quarter of a mile he sculled on before he lay on his oars and exclaimed,-- "You young fool!" "Why," pleaded I, "I didn't think you'd mind. He's been friendly enough to you lately." "Bah! What do I care what he is to me? I told you to fight shy of the fellow, and there you go and give yourself away to him." I did not quite like this. Tempest spoke to me as if I had not a soul of my own, and had no right to do anything without his leave. "He was speaking quite kindly about you," persisted I. Tempest checked the contemptuous exclamation which came to his lips, and said, more earnestly than I had heard him yet,-- "Look here, Jones; that fellow's a cad; and he'll make a cad of you, if you let him. Don't believe a word he says to you, unless he calls you a fool." "I hope what he's been saying to-day will turn out to be Lies," said I oracularly. To my disappointment Tempest evinced no curiosity as to my meaning, and relapsed into gloomy silence for the rest of the voyage. For the first time in my life I felt out of humour with my old Dux. He had no right to treat me like a baby, or dictate to me whom I was to know and whom I was not to know in Low Heath. No doubt he thought he was doing me a good turn, and honestly thought ill of Crofter. But it did not follow he was not doing him an injustice, and demanding that I should join in it. At any rate, I felt heartily miserable, and wished I had never put foot outside the faggery that day. About a mile from home Tempest got out on the towing-path, and said he would trot to the school while I paddled the boat home. It was some relief to be left alone; a relief, however, which was considerably tempered by the fear of meeting Crofter, and having to explain matters to him. That difficulty fortunately did not occur, and I got back to the bosom of the Philosophers without further adventure. In their sweet society I gradually recovered my spirits. Their enthusiasm for Tempest was still unabated, and their avowed contempt for his enemies all the world over was refreshing. A night's reflection further repaired my loyalty. After all, thought I, Tempest meant well by me, and was willing to make an enemy for my sake. He might be wrong, of course; but suppose he _was_ right-- The result of all these inward musings was that I offered Trimble to do Tempest's fagging in his place next morning. He seemed half to expect me, and the old friendly look was back in his face as he saw me enter. "I'm sorry I offended you yesterday, Tempest," said I.