eight o'clock
The rector was fonder of going to Kirby , where John , Geoffrey 's eldest son , lived quietly and soberly , his three younger brothers having , when mere boys , embraced the profession of arms , placing themselves under the care of the good soldier Sir William Brownie , who had served for many years in the Low Countries . They occasionally returned home for a time , and were pleased to take notice of the sons of their old tutor , although Geoffrey was six years junior to Horace , the youngest of the brothers . The young Vickars had much time to themselves , much more , indeed , than their mother considered to be good for them . After their breakfast , which was finished by eight o'clock , their father took them for an hour and heard the lessons they had prepared the day before , and gave them instruction in the Latin tongue . Then they were supposed to study till the bell rang for dinner at twelve ; but there was no one to see that they did so , for their father seldom came outside his library door , and their mother was busy with her domestic duties and in dispensing simples to the poor people , who , now that the monasteries were closed , had no medical aid save that which they got from the wives of the gentry or ministers , or from the wise women , of whom there was generally one in every village . Therefore , after half an hour , or at most an hour , spent in getting up their tasks , the books would be thrown aside , and the boys be off , either to the river or up to the castle to practice sword play with the men-at-arms , or to the butts with their bows , or to the rabbit warren , where they had leave from the earl to go with their dogs whenever they pleased . Their long excursions were , however , generally deferred until after dinner , as they were then free until suppertime -- and even if they did not return after that hour Mrs. Vickars did not chide them unduly , being an easygoing woman , and always ready to make excuses for them .