After that I knew I was beaten, and might as well own it, for a disappointed enemy is a far worse failure than a disappointed friend.
Still I clung on to my pride.

Broken down as I was, and unnerved and damaged in my self-respect, there was but a week more of the term to run, and I would try to hold out till the end.

If I could only do that, I was safe, for I would get my father to take me away at Christmas for good.

No--would I ?--that would be the biggest surrender of all.

I could not think what I would do.
So I sat down and wrote to Browne for lack of any better occupation, and told him how I envied him his expulsion, and wished any such luck could happen to me.
Then I grimly set myself to endure the remaining days of my slow torture.
Oh, the silence of those days! The noise and laughter of the fellows was nothing to it.