midnight
The critical time was approaching when the result of the year 's work would be put to the test . The two classics , as sons of a poor clergyman , were acutely conscious of all that was involved by a first or second class . Ralph Percival was realising painfully the difficulty of making up for years of slacking , or even of keeping up a spurt beyond a few days at a time ; the little Fresher trembled at the thought of her first Mays ; even Margaret France herself showed signs of nerves before the ordeal of the Tripos , and on one tragic occasion had even been discovered weeping hysterically upon her bed . `` C-c-couldn ' t remember a context , '' was her hiccoughing explanation of the breakdown , and henceforth Darsie had taken her in hand , fagged for her , petted her , scolded her , put her to bed , and ruthlessly carried off notebooks to her own study , to frustrate disastrous attempts at midnight toil . As for Dan , he was a giant among pigmies . Examinations had no terrors for him ; his place was assured . When strangers visited Cambridge , their sons and brothers pointed out his big , lumbering form in the streets , and bade them remember Vernon -- Vernon would arrive !