quarter to ten
In truth we were loyal subjects in those days , in a rough way . I trust that our successors make as much of her present majesty , and , having regard to the greater refinement of the times , have adopted or written other songs equally hearty , but more civilized , in her honor . PRAYERS . Then the quarter to ten struck , and the prayer-bell rang . The sixth and fifth form boys ranged themselves in their school order along the wall , on either side of the great fires , the middle fifth and upper-school boys around the long table in the middle of the hall , and the lower-school boys round the upper part of the second long table , which ran down the side of the hall furthest from the fires . Here Tom found himself at the bottom of all , in a state of mind and body not at all fit for prayers , as he thought ; and so tried hard to make himself serious , but could n't for the life of him do anything but repeat in his head the choruses of some of the songs , and stare at all the boys opposite , wondering at the brilliancy of their waistcoats , and speculating what sort of fellows they were . The steps of the head-porter are heard on the stairs , and a light gleams at the door .