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.
"I fancied it was I offended you," said he; "but I couldn't stand seeing you in that cad's clutches." "Is he really a cad, then ?" I asked.
"You don't suppose I asked you into my boat for fun, do you ?" said he shortly.
I went on for some time with my work, and then said,-- "Would you like to know what he was saying about you ?" "Not a bit," said he, so decisively that I relapsed again into silence.
"Look here, kid," said he, presently, and with unwonted seriousness.
"I'm not a saint, and don't profess to be.

And I may not be able to manage my own affairs, to judge by what you and half a dozen other of the fellows seem to think; but I don't want to see you--well, come to grief--and that's what you're likely to do if you let that fellow get hold of you." "He's not got hold of me," said I, feeling a little hurt once more.
"Mayn't I be civil to a fellow, even?
Why, he was saying if you--" "Shut up! didn't I tell you I don't want to hear ?" said he.
"Oh, all right." If he had only vouchsafed to tell me why he disliked Crofter, or if he had given his counsel in a less authoritative way, it would have been different.

He would not even let me repeat the friendly remarks Crofter had made about him; and was determined neither to say a good word for the fellow himself, nor let me say one.
The consequence was that our interview ended in my wishing once more I had confined myself to my own quarters and let ill alone.
My companions were not long in discovering that something was on my mind, and in their gentle way tried to cheer me up.
"What's the row--ear-ache ?" demanded Trimble.
"He's blue because he's not had lines to-day," suggested Langrish.
"Perhaps his washerwoman has sent in her bill," said Coxhead.
"You'll get kicked out of here, if you look so jolly blue," said Warminster.