seven o'clock
said Telson , `` and give them a start too . '' `` All very well , you fellows , '' said King , `` but suppose we 're all expelled to-morrow . '' This unpleasant suggestion took away most of the interest in the proposed race , and it was decided to defer further arrangements till the fate of the parties should be decided . After this the party waited gloomily till seven o'clock came , and then , in decidedly low spirits , rose in a body and repaired to Mr Parrett 's study . Had they been aware of the actual state of that amiable athlete 's mind from the moment they last saw him , handkerchief in mouth , hurrying down the passage , till now , their trepidation would have been considerably relieved . The first thing Mr Parrett had done on regaining his room after that `` bad quarter of an hour '' with his juniors was to throw himself into a chair and laugh heartily . The fact was , his sense of humour was inconveniently acute for the master of a public school , so that what would strike other masters as a heinous offence , occurred to him more as a ludicrous chapter of accidents .