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 before somewhere! He looked up, and what was his astonishment to find in his dreaded principal no other than the gentleman with whom he had yesterday spent such a friendly hour in the train between Gunborough and Randlebury! And his face was as kind as ever, and his voice encouraging, as he repeated,-- "What's the matter, my man?
has the watch stopped." "Oh, sir," said Charlie, running up to him, "I am glad it's you, and I'm so sorry I drove the cab, and hit Walker in the eye.

I'll never do it again!" "Tut, tut," said the head master; "if you never do any worse than that, you won't go far wrong.

I didn't tell you who I was yesterday, because I wanted you to manage for yourself, and fight your own battle on first arriving.