ten
minutes before twelve
But Bob , sir , bless you , he 's tender-hearted ; he 'd sooner pull in a bit if he see 'd 'em a gettin ' beat . I do b ` lieve , too , as that there un 'd sooner break his heart than let us go by him afore next milestone . '' At the second milestone the boys pulled up short , and waved their hats to the guard , who had his watch out and shouted `` 4.56 , '' thereby indicating that the mile had been done in four seconds under the five minutes . They passed several more parties of boys , all of them objects of the deepest interest to Tom , and came in sight of the town at ten minutes before twelve . Tom fetched a long breath , and thought he had never spent a pleasanter day . Before he went to bed he had quite settled that it must be the greatest day he should ever spend , and did n't alter his opinion for many a long year , -- if he has yet . '' -- Foot and eye opposed In dubious strife . ''