Tom, Dick and Harry Part 51

No one seconded it.

"Jolly lucky shave for you, young Sarah," said c.o.xhead.

"Thanks awfully," said I.

"We may as well divide up the pool now?" suggested Warminster.

With a generosity which was really touching, the Philosophers had clubbed together the shattered fragments of their term's pocket-money to a.s.sist Tempest in his financial troubles. They had done it ungrudgingly, nay enthusiastically, and it was not against them that the enthusiasm remained now as each one unexpectedly received back his Philosopher's mite from the depths of the kindly "pool."

It is all very well keeping a secret like mine for twenty-four hours.

It was an effort, but I did it, and prevailed on my comrades to keep it too. It was even harder work to prevail upon them as a matter of policy to accept the temporary supremacy of Crofter in the house. Nothing would induce them to refrain from cheering Tempest (much to his displeasure) on every possible occasion. It made it awkward for me sometimes when this happened in Crofter's presence; for as things now were in Sharpe's, a cheer for the old captain meant a hoot at the new; and I felt that Crofter, did the fellows only know all, did not deserve their resentment.

After forty-eight hours I could not restrain myself any longer. It was not fair to myself, or Crofter, or Low Heath, that every one should suppose Tempest was to be expelled when he really was not. So, with some misgivings, I decided to put myself in his way and break the agreeable news to him, and so have everything cleared up before the end of term.

It was not difficult to find an excuse. I had not been to Tempest's rooms since our unlucky quarrel, and had been suffering inconvenience ever since by the fact that my Latin Gradus was there. On the last day but one of the term, therefore, I developed a burning desire to consult my missing handbook, and must needs go in search of it.

Tempest was sitting, miserably enough, before the fire, with his feet on the fender and his hands up to the back of his head as I entered. It was not till I was well in the room and had closed the door that he turned round and saw me.

I thought at first he meant to fly at me, his face clouded so angrily.

But it changed to a look of contempt as he said,--

"Well?"

"Tempest, I'm awfully sorry, really I am, but--"

"Don't let us have any of that. If I thought you'd meant it, I should precious soon know what to do. You've done me about the worst turn a fellow could, and if you weren't a conceited young a.s.s it would be some use thrashing you. As it is, somebody else may do that when I'm gone."

The wretchedness of his tone quite touched me. I forgot my anger and sense of resentment, and all the old affection and loyalty came back with a rush. How could I ever have imagined a fellow like Crofter was worthy to hold a candle to my old Dux?

"Really, Tempest," began I, losing my head and blundering I scarcely knew whither, "when you saw me talking to Crofter--" He uttered an angry exclamation.

"There, now, shut up about your friend Crofter. I don't want to hear about him."

"He's not my friend, Tempest; he's--he's yours."

He wheeled round in his chair and laughed bitterly.

"It's a queer time to joke," said he, with a laugh that cut me through.

"It's no joke, Tempest. You don't know what he's done for you."

"Don't I? I fancy I do."

"About the bills," said I, faltering, "you know."

"Ah I don't come here to tell me about that."

"It was all of his own accord he paid them."

"He what?" shouted Tempest, springing from his chair and facing round.

"Paid them, you know; at least, I paid them for him."

"You? Paid?" and he caught me by the collar and shook me like a puppy.

"You said you knew," gasped I.

"Paid my bills! You say that blackguard had the cheek to--"

"He got me to do it; it was his money, though."

He groaned as if some one had wounded him. A crimson flush of shame and mortification overspread his face, and for a moment he stared at me speechless.

Then he pulled himself together and strode out of the room. Utterly bewildered and half terrified, I followed him. What had I done to offend him? Had all the trouble of the term turned his head?

To my alarm he made straight for Crofter's study. No one was there. He turned and saw me.

"Tell Crofter I want him at once."

I departed with my heart in my mouth. At the foot of the staircase I met Crofter.

"Tempest wants to see you," said I; "he sent me to--to ask you to come."

"He doesn't know?" inquired Crofter.

"Yes--I told him--I--I thought I ought to let him know." Crofter laughed his sweet laugh.

"If I had wanted it known all over Low Heath," said he, "I could hardly have done better than tell you to keep it a secret. I'd much sooner he had not known. However--where is he?"

"In your study, I think."

I felt constrained to follow. Crofter evidently was expecting to be the recipient of an outburst of effusive grat.i.tude. I had not the courage to disabuse him.

He walked pleasantly and graciously into his study, where Tempest stood, flushing and biting his lips, awaiting him. "Is this true what that youngster says, that you've had the--that you've paid bills of mine?"

"I'm sorry he told you, Tempest. I thought it might get you out of a difficulty, and I--"

"And you expect me to thank you! Take that, for daring to meddle in my affairs!"

And he struck Crofter on the cheek--not a hard blow, but one which sent the recipient reeling across the room with astonishment.

For a moment I expected a fight. Crofter, however, pale, but smiling still, declined the challenge.

"You'll be sorry, I'm sure," said he, as coolly as he could. "I only wanted to do you a good turn, and--"

"I'm sorry already," said Tempest, who had already gathered himself together. "I hoped you'd fight like a man. As you're afraid to, I'm sorry I touched you."

"I see nothing to fight about," said Crofter. "I don't see what there is to be angry about."