seven o'clock
But this half we only sing in the hall . Come along down to my study . '' Their principal employment in the study was to clear out East 's table ; removing the drawers and ornaments and tablecloth ; for he lived in the bottom passage , and his table was in requisition for the singing . Supper came in due course at seven o'clock , consisting of bread and cheese and beer , which was all saved for the singing ; and directly afterwards the fags went to work to prepare the hall . The School-house hall , as has been said , is a great long high room , with two large fires on one side , and two large iron-bound tables , one running down the middle , and the other along the wall opposite the fireplaces . Around the upper fire the fags placed the tables in the form of a horse-shoe , and upon them the jugs with the Saturday night 's allowance of beer . Then the big boys used to drop in and take their seats , bringing with them bottled beer and song books ; for although they all knew the songs by heart , it was the thing to have an old manuscript book descended from some departed hero , in which they were all carefully written out .