one minute to twelve
Neither of the boys enjoyed his breakfast that morning , and their studies afterwards fared very badly , for their attention was principally directed from their books to the door , which opened again and again for some reason or another , but not for the delivery of the message they expected . Knowing the military precision of the Colonel , both boys began to wonder at a quarter-past eleven why they had not been summoned , for the Colonel had said in his curt epistle to Glyn -- which `` looked cross , '' so the boy said -- that he would be at the Doctor 's at eleven . Half-past was marked by the hands of the big dial , quarter to twelve , and then five minutes to mid-day , and in a few minutes the masters would rise ; but there was no summons , and , what was more , the Doctor had not been in the class-room that morning . It was exactly one minute to twelve , and just as Singh 's spirits were rising fast from the effect of having fully settled in his own mind that the Colonel would not come down that day , that his heart sank with a rush , for Wrench entered with the familiar announcement that the Doctor wished to see Mr Severn and Mr Singh in his study . The boys followed the footman , and as soon as they were outside Glyn began to question him . `` Has my father come , Wrench ? '' `` Yes , sir , '' said the man coldly , for since the beginning of the trouble and the sharp examinations that had taken place , the behaviour of the servants had been distant in the extreme , and such friendly intercourse as had existed between the pupils and masters had received a decided check .