eleven o'clock
he bawled to the scholars generally , and sat down at his desk to hide his suffering . For one brief moment there was silence . Then a tumult arose , a shouting , and holloing , and screeching , and the whole school rushed to the door , as if the devil had been after them to catch the hindmost . Strange uproar invaded the ears of Glamerton -- strange , that is , at eleven o'clock in the forenoon of Monday -- the uproar of jubilant freedom . But the culprits , Annie and Alec , stood and stared at the master , whose face was covered with one hand , while the other hung helpless at his side . Annie stopped partly out of pity for the despot , and partly because Alec stopped . Alec stopped because he was the author of the situation -- at least he never could give any better reason .