My mother was not the person to take a mean advantage of me, or get me into a corner to lecture me. Rather not! She took me for what I was, and let me see how she loved me. That was the proper sort of help for me. In some ways she made less of me than usual, but I could see why she did that; she saw I wanted letting alone, and she did it, bless her!

Only on the last evening, a Sunday, as we walked back from church, she said--

"Are you glad or sorry to be going back to-morrow, Tom?"

"Sorry for some things--glad for others. I fooled a bit last term, you know, mother."

"Ah, well, sonny, it's part of the lessons of school to find out our mistakes now and then. It was all new to you at first. I expect you tried to do too much, you know."

"I know--you mean I'd best lie low a bit, mother."

"Yes. I know what you mean," said she.

"There you are!" exclaimed I, staggered by this new coincidence, "that's what every chap has said. I'll do my best, really, mother; only it's jolly hard. Don't be awfully sorry if I don't get right all at once; I'll try, you know."

"You can't do more than your best, sonny dear."

"Redwood says," continued I, "that I shall probably tool about more or less to the end of my time. It's in my line, he says; but he rather backs me to pull myself together for all that."

"So do I, Tom. And the best friend you have does so too."

My journey next day was very different from the strange journey of a term ago. I had neither tan boots nor square-topped hat nor lavender gloves; and I could afford to smile with Langrish (who joined me _en route_) at some of the poor little greenhorns on their way to make their entry into Low Heath.

How different it was, too, to be hailed by half a dozen voices from the top of the omnibus at the station and told to hop up beside them! And how jolly to ride in triumph up Bridge Street, exchanging shouts with familiar pa.s.sengers on the way, or uttering defiant war-whoops at the day boys!

And how jolly to tumble in at Sharpe's door once more, and slap one another on the back, and crowd up into the old familiar f.a.ggery, and hear all the old chaff and slang, interspersed with stories of the holidays, and second-hand Christmas jokes!

And how jolly to hear the organ again in the chapel, and the prayers, with friends all round you; and finally, when the day was over, tuck up again in the little cubicle, and hear your chum's voice across the part.i.tion droning more and more sleepily, till finally you and it dropped off together!

One of the last to arrive during the day was Tempest, who had run from the station, and came in flushed with exercise, but grave and tight about the lips. The ovation he received from the Philosophers scarcely drew a smile from him, and when he reached his own study he slammed the door ominously and cheerlessly behind him. We none of us liked it.

"What's it to be?" said c.o.xhead. "Is he to be c.o.c.k of the house this term, or has he chucked it up?"

That was the question which was agitating us all. Till the form orders were posted to-morrow no one could tell. Crofter, we knew, had been doing all he knew to get ahead, and considering the slack way in which Tempest had let things go all last term, it seemed very much as if he might succeed.

If he did, our duty would be a difficult one. Crofter had a claim on us for having saved Tempest from being expelled, and we could hardly refuse to own him should he come out c.o.c.k of the house. On the other hand.

Tempest was the man of our heart, and our tender imagination failed to picture him in any secondary position in Sharpe's,--secondary to Crofter, above all other things.

The day closed with one curious incident.

Langrish came to me after supper in a state of wrathful perturbation.

"Look here, young Sarah," said he, "are you Tempest's f.a.g or not?

That's all about it."

"I don't know," said I; "I was, but he told me--"

"He told you he didn't want a cad like you hanging about his place. All very well--that doesn't follow I'm his f.a.g as well as Crofter's. Here, catch hold; you've got to take this to Crofter. _I'm_ not going to take it--it means a licking most likely, and I don't see why I'm to be let in for it."

He handed me an envelope, evidently containing coin, addressed "Crofter," in Tempest's well-known writing.

I did not relish the commission, for I had my guess as to the contents of the missive. Curiosity, however, prompted me to take it and proceed to Crofter's study.

"Well, youngster," said Crofter, "turned up again? Have you seen Tempest yet?"

"Yes--he sent this," said I.

Crofter took the envelope and opened it. Five sovereigns and a half- sovereign dropped out on the table. No letter accompanied the money, but its meaning was clear enough. Crofter's brow contracted, and his habitual smile deserted him for once.

"What is this? Some mistake," said he.

"It's what he owes you," suggested I.

"I suppose so; but that was only 4 17 shillings 6 pence."

"Perhaps the rest is something for yourself," I remarked, making myself scarce in time to escape the task of returning the change.

Bother it! Crofter must square this part of the business up with his enemy. _I_ didn't want to be dragged any more into it.

There was a rush for the house board early next morning to learn our fate as to the captaincy of Sharpe's.

"Whew!" said Langrish, as we reached it; "bracketed."

So it was. Tempest's and Crofter's names were braced together at the head of the list.

"That's a nice go! I suppose they'll have to go halves. All the worse for us."

"I should think, as Tempest was captain last term, he'll go on again this," I said.

"He wasn't captain when term ended; Crofter was."

"I vote they fight it out," said Warminster. "Two to one on the winner."

"It would save trouble if they made Pridgin head; he's third man up."

"Pridgin!" The easy-going owner of the name was spared something by not being present to hear the amused contempt with which the suggestion was greeted.

An hour later the doctor came down to settle matters for us.

"Under the circ.u.mstances," said he, "it seems right that Crofter should take charge of the house. I understand that Tempest's debts, on account of which he was removed from the headship last term, are now all honourably settled. But as he was more than once reported for breaking rules last term, it is only fair that Crofter, whose marks are equal, and against whom no complaint was recorded, should captain the house."

That was all. Tempest, on the whole, looked relieved. Crofter smiled a satisfied smile. Pridgin and Wales looked blue; and the Philosophers took time to consider what they thought.

As for me, although Tempest had thrown me over, I could guess what a blow this was for him; not personally, for he would probably be glad to be rid of the responsibility, but as a public disgrace it was sure to wound him keenly.

I longed to be able to go and tell him how sorry I was; but after what had happened last term I dare not. In that respect, whether I liked it or not, I must "lie low."

The Philosophers were not long in formally exchanging opinions on the situation.