hereas 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 I was promptly withdrawn from the fray as a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,