nine o'clock
A fourth method indeed was used in the school , but of too simple a kind to require a comment . It may be called the vicarious method , obtained amongst big boys of lazy or bullying habits , and consisted simply in making clever boys whom they could thrash do their whole vulgus for them , and construe it to them afterwards ; which latter is a method not to be encouraged , and which I strongly advise you all not to practise . Of the others , you will find the traditionary most troublesome , unless you can steal your vulguses whole -LRB- experto crede -RRB- , and that the artistic method pays the best both in marks and other ways . The vulguses being finished by nine o'clock , and Martin having rejoiced above measure in the abundance of light , and of Gradus and dictionary , and other conveniences almost unknown to him for getting through the work , and having been pressed by Arthur to come and do his verses there whenever he liked , the three boys went down to Martin 's den , and Arthur was initiated into the lore of bird 's - eggs , to his great delight . The exquisite colouring and forms astonished and charmed him who had scarcely ever seen any but a hen 's egg or an ostrich 's , and by the time he was lugged away to bed he had learned the names of at least twenty sorts , and dreamt of the glorious perils of tree-climbing and that he had found a roc 's egg in the island as big as Sinbad 's and clouded like a tit-lark 's , in blowing which Martin and he had nearly been drowned in the yolk . `` I have found out a gift for my fair , I have found where the wood-pigeons breed : But let me the plunder forbear , She would say 't was a barbarous deed . '' ROWE .