midnight
Besides the regular college tutor , I secured the assistance of what , in the slang of the day , we irreverently termed `` a coach , '' which vehicle , for the conveyance of heavy learning -LRB- from himself to his pupils -RRB- , consisted of a gentleman who , but few years older than those whom he taught , possessed more practical knowledge , and a greater aptitude for the highest scientific research , than it had ever before been my fate to meet with combined in any one individual . Under his able tuition I advanced rapidly , and reading men began to look upon me as a somewhat formidable rival . Several of my opponents , however , were men of first-rate talent , whose powers of mind , as I could not for a moment disguise from myself , ~ 230 ~ ~ were infinitely superior to my own , and with whom my only chance of competing successfully would be by the exercise of indefatigable perseverance and industry . Daylight , therefore -LRB- which at this season did not make its appearance over early -RRB- , found me book in hand , and midnight saw me still seated at my desk -- sometimes with a wet towel bound round my head , to cool the throbbing of my heated brow ; at others , with a tea-pot of strong green tea by my side , to arouse and stimulate my wearied faculties : conventional specifics , of which , by the way , I very quickly discovered the fallacy . A fear of completely knocking up , however , induced me to preserve some little method in my madness . I laid down a rule to walk for a couple of hours every day , and thus , although I grew pale and thin , no very dangerous effects appeared likely to ensue from my exertions . One evening , about a week before the examinations were to begin , I was taking my usual constitutional after Hall ; and , careless which way I turned my steps , crossed the river at Moore 's , and followed the footpath which led over the fields to the village of Chesterton .