four o'clock
At sharp eleven , a large clock over the fireplace , with a round face like that of our podgy preceptor , telling the time , Dr Hellyer pushed back his chair as a sign that our morning studies were over ; and the boys then all trooped out into the playground for an hour , coming back again punctually at twelve to dinner in the re-transformed room , at the summons of the inveterate gong . As the butcher had been lately conciliated apparently , there was no recourse to tinned meats of Australian or South American brand on the first occasion of my partaking of this meal at the establishment . Roast beef , and plenty of it , was served out to us , with the accompaniment of potatoes and cabbage , vegetables being cheap at that time on account of the watering-place 's season being ended ; while such of the pupils whose parents paid extra for the beverage , in the same way as they did for French and dancing lessons from the `` Cobbler , '' were supplied with a mug apiece of very small beer -- the remainder , and far larger proportion of us , being allowed cold water `` at discretion . '' After dinner came afternoon school , lasting till four o'clock ; when followed another hour 's diversion in the playground ; and then , tea , similar to the repast I had been a spectator , but not partaker of , the evening before . After tea a couple of hours ' rest were allowed for reflection , in the same apartment , during which time the boys were supposed to learn their lessons for the next morning , but did n't -- Dr Hellyer relegating his authority at this period of the day generally to Smiley , who went to sleep invariably when in charge of the room , or the Cobbler , who as invariably sneaked out and left the pupils to themselves , when the consequences may be readily imagined . At eight o'clock , to bring this category of our day 's doings to a close , the final gong sounded a tattoo , sending us all aloft , like poor Tom Bowling , to the dormitories to bed . Such was the ordinary routine of our life at the Doctor 's , according to my two years ' experience , the only exception being that our meals varied , as to quantity and quality , in direct proportion to the Doctor 's credit in the neighbouring town ; for , I will do our preceptor the justice to state that , should fortune smile on him , in respect to the facilities afforded him by the tradespeople with whom he dealt , he treated us with no niggard hand and we fared well ; while , should the fickle goddess Fortune frown , and provisions be withheld by the cautious purveyors thereof until ready money was forthcoming , then we suffered accordingly , there being a dearth upon the land , which we had to tide over as best we could , hoping for better times .