Indeed, while the master was making this oration, there was a general
titter behind him in the schoolroom. The orator had his back to the door
of this ancient apartment, which was open, and a gentleman who was quite
familiar with the place, for both Major Arthur and Mr. John Pendennis had
been at the school, was asking the fifth-form boy who sate by the door
for Pendennis. The lad grinning pointed to the culprit against whom the
Doctor was pouring out the thunders of his just wrath--Major Pendennis
could not help laughing. He remembered having stood under that very
pillar where Pen the younger now stood, and having been assaulted by the
Doctor's predecessor years and years ago. The intelligence was 'passed
round' that it was Pendennis's uncle in an instant, and a hundred young
faces wondering and giggling, between terror and laughter, turned now to
the new-comer and then to the awful Doctor.

The Major asked the fifth-form boy to carry his card up to the Doctor,
which the lad did with an arch look. Major Pendennis had written on the
card, "I must take A. P. home; his father is very ill."

As the Doctor received the card, and stopped his harangue with rather a
seared look, the laughter of the boys, half constrained until then, burst
out in a general shout. "Silence!" roared out the Doctor stamping with
his foot. Pen looked up and saw who was his deliverer; the Major beckoned
to him gravely with one of his white gloves, and tumbling down his books,
Pen went across.

The Doctor took out his watch. It was two minutes to one. "We will take
the Juvenal at afternoon school," he said, nodding to the Captain, and
all the boys understanding the signal gathered up their books and poured
out of the hall.