twelve o'clock
I shall now tear down the insulting notice , and put it into your hands , Avonley , as head of the school , that you may make further inquiries . '' He left the room , and the boys resumed their usual avocation till twelve o'clock . But poor Eric could hardly get through his ordinary pursuits ; he felt sick and giddy , until everybody noticed his strange embarrassed manner and random answers . No sooner had twelve o'clock struck than the whole school broke up into knots of buzzing and eager talkers . `` I wonder who did it , '' said a dozen voices at once . `` The writing was undoubtedly Williams 's , '' suggested some . `` And did you notice how red and pale he got when the Doctor spoke to him , and how he hung his head ? ''