Ten o'clock
None of the boys but Franz and Emil knew what had happened , and when they came down next morning , great was their wonderment and discomfort , for the house seemed forlorn without its master and mistress . Breakfast was a dismal meal with no cheery Mrs. Jo behind the teapots ; and when school-time came , Father Bhaer 's place was empty . They wandered about in a disconsolate kind of way for an hour , waiting for news and hoping it would be all right with Demi 's father , for good John Brooke was much beloved by the boys . Ten o'clock came , and no one arrived to relieve their anxiety . They did not feel like playing , yet the time dragged heavily , and they sat about listless and sober . All at once , Franz got up , and said , in his persuasive way , `` Look here , boys ! let 's go into school and do our lessons just as if Uncle was here .