I wouldn't break my heart if I were you." "I don't mean to," said Gilks, but in a tone which belied the words, and even struck Wibberly by its wretchedness.
"I say," said he, "you're awfully down in the mouth these times.

What's wrong ?" "What makes you think anything's wrong?
I'm all right, I tell you," said Gilks, half angrily.
Wibberly was half inclined to say that he would not have thought it if he had not been told so, but judging from his companion's looks that this little pleasantry would not be appreciated, he forbore and walked on in silence.
It was a relief when Wibberly at length discovered that it was time for him to be going back.

Gilks wanted nobody's company, and was glad to be left alone.
And yet he would gladly have escaped even from his own company, which to judge by his miserable looks as he walked on alone was less pleasant than any.
He was sorry now he had not gone to watch the juniors, where at least he would have heard something less hateful than his own thoughts, and seen something less hateful than the dreary creations of his own troubled imagination.
"What's the use of keeping it up ?" said he, bitterly, to himself.

"I don't care! Things can't be worse than they are.

Down in the mouth! He'd be down in the mouth if he were!--the fool! I've a good mind to-- And yet I daren't face it.