twelve o'clock
Howard sat down at his table , pulled a chair up to his side , produced a corrected piece of Latin prose , made some criticisms and suggestions , and ended up by saying , `` That 's a good piece ! You have improved a good deal lately , and that would get you a solid mark . '' Then he sat for a minute or two talking about the books his pupil was reading , and indicating the points he was to look out for , till at half-past ten another youth appeared to go through the same process . This went on until twelve o'clock . Howard 's manner was kindly and business-like , and the undergraduates were very much at their ease . One of them objected to one of his criticisms . Howard turned to a dictionary and showed him a paragraph .