four o'clock
In the distance , over pastoral country , rose low wolds , pleasantly shaped , skirted with little hamlets , surrounded by orchards ; the old untroubled necessary work of the world flows on in these fields and villages , peopled with lives hardly conscious of themselves , with no aims or theories , just toiling , multiplying , dying , existing , it would seem , merely to feed and clothe the more active part of the world . Howard loved such little interludes of silence , out in the fresh country , when the calm life of tree and herb , the delicate whisper of dry , evenly-blowing breezes , tranquillised and hushed his restless thoughts . He lost himself in a formless reverie , exercising no control over his trivial thoughts . By four o'clock he was back , made himself some tea , put on a cap and gown , and walked out to a meeting . In a high bare room in the University offices the Committee sat . The Vice-Chancellor , a big , grave , solid man , Master of St. Benedict 's , sat in courteous state . Half a dozen dons sat round the great tables , ranged in a square .