And the memory of him sitting there haunted me all that night and for weeks to come.
When, next day, the news went round that Tempest had escaped expulsion, the general delight was tempered with amazement at the rumour which accompanied it, that he owed his escape to Crofter.

No one but Crofter himself could have put the latter story into circulation, and to any one knowing the two seniors as well as I did, it was obvious that what had completed the humiliation of one had been the crowning triumph of the other.
Crofter could not have avenged himself for the insults of the term more effectively; and Tempest's proud nature could not have suffered a bitterer wound than to know that he had been put under an obligation in spite of himself, and without the possibility of preventing it, by his worst enemy.
The ordinary "Sharper" could hardly be expected to trouble himself about questions of motive.

It was sufficient for him that his hero was saved, and that the credit of the popular act which saved him belonged to Crofter.
Consequently both were cheered equally when they appeared in public, and of the two Crofter accepted his popularity with a far better grace than his mortified adversary.
But it was all very miserable to me as I slunk home that afternoon in the train.

All the hopes of the wonderful term had been disappointed.
I was a recognised dunce and idler at Low Heath.

I had lost my best friend and sold myself to his enemy.