Wherever the head Welcher took his complaint he got the same answer; and it became perfectly clear that as long as Willoughby was without a captain, law and order was at a discount.
However, such a state of things was not destined long to last.

A notice went round from the doctor to the monitors the next day asking them to assemble directly after chapel the following morning in the library.
Every one knew what this meant; and when later on it was rumoured that Riddell had gone to the doctor's that evening to tea, it became pretty evident in which direction things were going.
"Tea at the doctor's" was always regarded as rather a terrible ordeal by those who occasionally came in for the honour.

Some would infinitely have preferred a licking in the library, and others would have felt decidedly more comfortable in the dock of a police-court.

Even the oldest boys, whose conduct was exemplary, and whose conscience had as little to make it uneasy in the head master's presence as in the presence of the youngest fag in Willoughby, were always glad when the ceremony was over.
The reason of all this was not in the doctor.

Dr Patrick was one of the kindest and pleasantest of men.