Boycotted | Page 6

was a mild victory as far as it went, but it did not end there, for that
afternoon I came upon a group in the playground, the central figure of
which was the wretched Wigram, on his knees in the act of apologising
humbly all round for having been cad enough to speak to me. It seemed
a good chance for the long-wished-for quarrel, and I jumped at it.
"Let him go!" shouted I, breaking into the group and addressing the
company generally. "If any one touches him he will have to fight me!"
Alas! they stared a little, and then laughed a little, and then strolled
away, with Wigram among them, leaving me alone. 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. I could endure the one, and in my extremity was even
glad of it. But the sealed lips of everyone that met me were like so
many daggers.
At last I was really ill--or at any rate I was so reduced that unless relief
came soon I must either capitulate or run away.
Even yet I found it hard to contemplate the former alternative. I met
Harrison one morning in the passage. I suppose I must have looked
specially miserable, for, contrary to his usual practice now, instead of
looking away, he slackened speed as he came up and looked at me.
Now was my time surely. I was famished for want of a friendly word or
look, and my pride was at its last gasp. I believe I had actually begun to
speak, when a sound in the passage startled us both, and we passed by
as of old--strangers.
I rushed off to my study, ashamed and disappointed, and paced round it
like a caged animal. What could I do? Should I write to some of the
fellows? Should I tell Draven? or--should I escape?
Then it occurred to me, had not I a right to know why I was being
treated like this? What had I done? Was I a sneak, or a leper, or a
murderer, that I should thus be excommunicated and tortured? What a
fool I had been, not to think of this before! Alas! it was too late now.
My pride had made it impossible for me to speak the first word without
surrendering all along the line; and even yet, at the eleventh hour, I
could not face that. So I shut myself up for another day, miserable,
nervous, and ill, and counted the minutes to bedtime.
The evening post brought a letter from Browne, and, thankful for any
diversion, and the silent company even of a friendly piece of paper, I
crawled off early to my study to make the most of my little comfort.
I started before I had read two lines, and uttered an exclamation of
amazement.
"Dear Smither,--

"There's been a most frightful mistake. By the same post as brought
your letter I got enclosed from Williams. What a set of cads they've
been, and all my fault! I've written to Williams that if it's not all put
right in twenty-four hours I'll come down, disgraced as I am, and tell
Draven. I'm in too great a rage to write more. Unless I get a telegram
`All right!' by ten to-morrow morning I'll come.
"Yours ever,--
"P. Browne."
Williams's letter enclosed--or rather part of it, for Browne had kept one
sheet--was as follows, though my head was swimming so much at the
time that I could scarcely take it all in.
"The fellows here haven't forgotten you, and they're showing it in a
pretty decided way at present. About three weeks ago we discovered
that Smither, who called himself your friend, was the sneak who went
to Draven the morning you were expelled, and let out about you. He
was seen coming from D.'s study early, and