You'll have to sit at a different table from me; but mind and wait for me afterwards, for I've got to take you to the doctor." So Charlie was conducted down to the hall to breakfast, and provided with a humble seat at the foot of the lowest table, while Joe Halliday made his way with all the dignity that became his years to a distinguished place at the highest.
My master found himself among a set of noisy little boys, who amused themselves during the greater part of the meal by interchanging volleys of bread pellets, which much oftener missed their marks than reached them, in consequence of which he himself came in for the brunt of the cannonade.

Once he ventured to return one of the random shots which had found its way to his fingers.

Fortune favoured his aim, and his shaft hit the boy it was intended for full in the eye.
"Who did that ?" cried the wounded hero sharply.
"I did," replied Charlie, quite proud of his achievement.
"All right, I'll punch your head for it when we get outside." This was by no means what Charlie had expected.

He had imagined the wound would be received in the same spirit of jest in which it was aimed.
"It was only in fun," he explained; "did it hurt you ?" "Of course it did," exclaimed the injured youth, who till Charlie's arrival had been the junior pupil of the school, and was now delighted to find some one below himself in the scale of seniority.

"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.