Disappointing failures

I gave a removal exam this morning to a handful of students who enrolled in my class this past semester but received a conditional failing grade. I felt really sad though after grading their papers because every one of them failed! I was really wishing they would pass and it cut me to the quick to see them just meekly walk away after I broke the bad news to them later this afternoon. Just when they were so eagerly awaiting the results! Contrary to what most students and other people think we instructors generally don't delight in failing our students.