y. "Of course it
did, and you'll catch it."

All the other boys laughed, and Charlie, who could not find it in him to
be overawed by even so majestic a hero as little Master Johnny Walker,
made the best of his position.

"Look here," he said, "I'll give you three shots at my mouth, and if
you--"

"There's too much talking at table six!" exclaimed an awful voice, and
instantly every voice was hushed, including Charlie's, who blushed to
the roots of his hair, and felt as if he had been singled out before the
whole school as a rioter. He gulped down his breakfast without further
argument with Master Walker, and was relieved, when the meal was over,
to find that that doughty warrior appeared to have altered his mind
about punching his youthful head.

After some time he saw Halliday beckoning to him from the other side of
the room.

"Now you've got to go to the doctor," said he; "come along."

This was the first time my master had fully realised the solemn nature
of the approaching interview, and I felt his heart flutter as he
inquired,--

"I say, what will he say to me?"

"Oh, all sorts of things; you'd better mind what you're up to, I can
tell you," was the reassuring reply.

"Do you think I shall get in a row for driving the cab yesterday?"
faltered Charlie.

"Shouldn't wonder," was the reply.

"Oh, dear! And do you think he saw me hit Johnny Walker in the eye at
breakfast?"

"What, were you the boy who was kicking up all that row? My eye! you're
in for it! Here you are; I'll knock for you."

And giving the poor trembling boy not so much as an instant in which to
collect his flurried ideas, Joe gave a rap at the door, which was
answered at once by a sharp "Come in!" from within.

"Now then," said Halliday, "in you go."

Charlie's knees shook under him, and he hung back from that awful door
in mute terror.

"Come in!" again cried the voice.

"Do you hear, you young muff?" exclaimed Halliday. "Won't you catch it!
Go in, will you?"

And opening the door himself he fairly pushed my poor master into the
head master's study.

Fancy the agony of the poor boy, fully believing himself a doomed
miscreant, entering for the first time the awful presence of the head
master of Randlebury School.

He stood there with downcast eyes, not daring to speak, and rooted to
the spot.

"Why, what's the matter, my boy?"

At the words Charlie started like one electrified. He had surely heard
that voice befor