five o'clock
`` Was there ever such a boy ! '' exclaimed Mr. Howland . `` Most probably he has been kept in , '' suggested the mother . `` Edward , go round to the house of his teacher and ask if he was dismissed at five o'clock , '' said Mr. Howland . Edward left the table and went on his errand . He soon returned with word that Andrew had not been to school all day . Knife and fork fell from the hands of Mr. Howland , and the mother 's face instantly grew pale .