midnight
This deference at first embarrassed , then amused , then finally pleased him with an acute , mannish pleasure . The consequence was that Stover , who until this time had only looked forward and up at the majestic shadows of the fourth and fifth formers , now looked backward and down , and became pleasurably aware that leagues below him was the large body of the first and second forms . Having perceived this new adjustment he woke with a start and , rubbing his eyes , took stock of his amazing knowledge of life and again said to himself that now , finally , he certainly must have arrived at man 's estate . On top of which , having been asked to referee several disputes in his character of Honest John Stover , Dink , while holding himself in reserve to direct operations on a dignified and colossal scale against the Natural Enemy , decided that it was unbecoming of a man of his position , age and reputation , who had the entrée of the Upper House , to go skipping about the midnight ways , in undignified costume , with such rank shavers as Pebble Stone and Dennis de B. de B. Finnegan . So when Dennis arrived after lights , like a will-o ' - the-wisp , with a whispered : `` I say , Dink , all ready . '' Stover replied : `` All ready in bed . '' `` What , '' said Dennis aghast , `` you 're not with us ? ''