"Dear Crofter,--You needn't mind telling Tempest, as I've done so and
paid him back. With thanks all the same,--
"Yours truly,--
"T.J. iv."
I felt vastly easier in my mind when this polite letter was at an end,
and when I saw the faithful Dicky depart to execute his brotherly
mission. My one fear was lest the strawberry ice should get warm before
it reached its destination.
I waited in vain for any sign of response from Tempest. The
Philosophers went down during the afternoon to watch him training for
his race; but he vouchsafed us no regard, and, for all I knew, still put
me down as a thief and a sharper. Dicky, whom I met later on, explained
that he had failed to catch Tempest in his study, but had deposited the
articles along with the letter on his table, so that, if he did not know
of them yet, he soon would.
My anxiety was not at all allayed by a casual encounter with Crofter in
the evening. He summoned me into his study, where I saw my _billet-
doux_ lying on the table.
"I suppose you wrote this?" said he.
"Yes."
"And you think everything's clear now, do you?"
"Isn't it?" said I.
"I dare say Dr England will be able to tell you. By the way, why did
you only give me 2 shillings 6 pence change instead of 3 shillings 6
pence?"
"There was only 2 shillings 6 pence to give."
"Really? I thought so too till your clever management of the tips
tempted me to look over the bills again. I see that what you paid only
came to £4 16 shillings 6 pence, instead of £4 17 shillings 6 pence. I
don't want the other shilling, but hope you bought yourself something
nice with it. You must consider it a present from Tempest, not me."
I timed red and white in the sudden confusion of that announcement. I
was positively certain 2 shillings 6 pence had been the change, and that
if there was any mistake it must be on the part of the tradesmen, not
me. But how was I likely to convince Crofter, or, for the matter of
that, Tempest, that such was the case?
"I promise you," said I, "I only had 2 shillings 6 pence change.
Really, Crofter, do believe me."
"I believe every word you say," said Crofter, with a smile. "I have
every reason to, haven't I?"
"But, really and truly--"
"What's the use of saying any more? Of course, it's all really and
truly. I've no doubt Tempest believes it too."
"Please let me see the bills," pleaded I; "I'll show you I'm right."
"Unfortunately Tempest has them. I dare say he will be delighted."
"You haven't told him about this, have you?" I gasped, in helpless
misery.
"I'm going to; it's too good a joke to be kept to myself; I don't
suppose he'll mind. Certainly he won't be surprised."
"Oh, Crofter, for goodness' sake, don't tell him this!" said I,
blundering on into an appearance of guiltiness of which I was quite
innocent. "I'm wanting so awfully to be friends with him again. I've
given him back all I got out of the shops; and it will spoil everything
if you tell him this, really--it isn't true either."
Crofter laughed pleasantly.
"It's rather likely I should shield you, isn't it? when all this term
you and your friends have been insulting and defying me, and setting
yourself to upset my authority as captain of the house."
"Oh, but we aren't!"
"What does this precious thing mean?" demanded he, producing the famous
round-robin; "it's meant to be all politeness, I suppose."
"It only means," faltered I, "that we are sorry Tempest is not captain."
"Naturally. It's nice to have a captain one can swindle and rob, isn't
it?"