nine o'clock
Boys had gone to the bottom of the matter , and discovering the real reason of Thurston 's absence from the team , had declared that a fellow who out of spite would refuse to give his services to uphold the honour of the school had forfeited all claim on their consideration or sympathy . Such was the state of popular feeling when , with the clang of the getting-up bell on Thursday morning , the twelfth of December , a day commenced fraught with unexpected episodes and situations closely affecting the interests of the Triple Alliance . One might have thought that their adventures on the previous afternoon had afforded them sufficient excitement for at least one week ; but these were destined to prove but the prelude to an event of still greater importance . The three friends went into school at nine o'clock , looking forlorn and miserable . Something , indeed , had happened to mar their happiness , and the cause of their depression was as follows : -- Soon after breakfast , when the contents of the post-bag had been distributed as usual , Mugford accosted his two chums , who were strolling up and down the quadrangle . A look of abject misery was on his face , and in his hand he held an open letter . `` Hullo ! ''