midday
During school hours there was comparative peace , and he sat with perplexed brow and inky fingers , or was sent down to the bottom for inattention . It was not inattention but rather a complete incapacity for grasping the system on which everything worked . Meanwhile in this first week he had earned a reputation and made three friends , and although he did not know it that was not a bad beginning . On the day after his arrival Peter , after midday dinner , standing desolately in the playground and feeling certain that he ought to be playing football somewhere but completely ignorant as to the place where lists commonly hung , saw another new boy and hailed him . This boy he had noticed before -- he was shapeless of body , with big , round , good-tempered eyes , and he moved more slowly than any one whom Peter had ever seen . Nothing stirred him ; he did not mind it when his ears were pulled or his arms twisted , but only said slowly , `` Oh , drop it ! '' To this wonderful boy Peter made approach .