To one it was the wilful throwing away of the last and best chance of deliverance, to the other it was the cruel extinction of a love and trust that had till now bid fair to stand the wear of years to come.
"Get out, I say!" said Tom Drift, once more goaded to madness by the pitying sneers of Mortimer.
Charlie stayed no longer.

Half stunned, and scarcely knowing what he did, with one wild, mute prayer at his heart, he turned without a word and left the room.
Tom's friends followed his departure with mocking laughter, and watched his slowly retreating figure down the street with many a foul jest, and then returned to congratulate Tom Drift on his deliverance.
"Well," said Gus, "you are well rid of _him_, at any rate.

What a lucky thing we turned up just when we did! He'd have snivelled you into a shocking condition.

Why, what a weak-minded fellow Tom is; ain't he, Jack ?" "Wathah," replied Jack, with a laugh.
Meanwhile Tom had abandoned even himself.

He hated his friends, he hated himself, he hated Charlie and cursed himself for having ever allowed him within his doors.