twenty minutes past six
`` All right ! Six-thirty , mind , and chokers ! '' said Brown , not a little relieved to have scraped up two friends for the festive occasion . At the appointed time -- or rather before the appointed time , for they arrived at twenty minutes past six -- our two heroes , arrayed in their Sunday jackets and white ties , presented themselves at the house of their host . They had `` put it on '' considerably in order to get ahead of the doctor 's party ; for they considered that -- as Parson expressed it -- `` it would be a jolly lot less blushy work '' to be there before the head master arrived . There was no doubt about their success in this little manoeuvre , for when the servant opened the door the hall was full of rout seats , and a man , uncommonly like the greengrocer , in a dress coat , was busily unpacking plates out of a small hamper . Into this scene of confusion Parson and Telson were ushered , and here they were left standing for about five minutes , interested spectators , till the hall was cleared and the domestic had leisure to go and tell Master Harry of their arrival .