eight o'clock
Roast beef , and plenty of it , was served out to us , with the accompaniment of potatoes and cabbage , vegetables being cheap at that time on account of the watering-place 's season being ended ; while such of the pupils whose parents paid extra for the beverage , in the same way as they did for French and dancing lessons from the `` Cobbler , '' were supplied with a mug apiece of very small beer -- the remainder , and far larger proportion of us , being allowed cold water `` at discretion . '' After dinner came afternoon school , lasting till four o'clock ; when followed another hour 's diversion in the playground ; and then , tea , similar to the repast I had been a spectator , but not partaker of , the evening before . After tea a couple of hours ' rest were allowed for reflection , in the same apartment , during which time the boys were supposed to learn their lessons for the next morning , but did n't -- Dr Hellyer relegating his authority at this period of the day generally to Smiley , who went to sleep invariably when in charge of the room , or the Cobbler , who as invariably sneaked out and left the pupils to themselves , when the consequences may be readily imagined . At eight o'clock , to bring this category of our day 's doings to a close , the final gong sounded a tattoo , sending us all aloft , like poor Tom Bowling , to the dormitories to bed . Such was the ordinary routine of our life at the Doctor 's , according to my two years ' experience , the only exception being that our meals varied , as to quantity and quality , in direct proportion to the Doctor 's credit in the neighbouring town ; for , I will do our preceptor the justice to state that , should fortune smile on him , in respect to the facilities afforded him by the tradespeople with whom he dealt , he treated us with no niggard hand and we fared well ; while , should the fickle goddess Fortune frown , and provisions be withheld by the cautious purveyors thereof until ready money was forthcoming , then we suffered accordingly , there being a dearth upon the land , which we had to tide over as best we could , hoping for better times . Every Wednesday and Saturday , too , there was no afternoon school , the boys on these half - holidays being either allowed additional exercise in the so-called `` playground , '' or taken out for long dreary walks under the escort of Smiley or the Cobbler ; and on Sundays we were always marched to church in state , be the weather what it might , wet or fine , Dr Hellyer leading the van on these high parade occasions -- in full academical costume , and wearing a most wonderful sort of archdiaconal hat that had a very imposing effect -- with the two assistant masters acting as the rearguard , and closing the procession . In summer we used to have more latitude in the way of outdoor exercise , the boys being taken down every morning to bathe in the sea , when the tide allowed , before breakfast ; or , if the far out-reaching sands were not then covered with water , later on in the day .