10 o'clock
In a certain sense Habakkuk is to be regarded as marking a transition in Walter 's life , viz. from nursery rhymes to books which deal with big people . For some time he had felt his admiration for `` brave Heinriche '' to be growing ; and he was disgusted with the paper peaches that are distributed as the reward of diligence in the beautiful stories . Of any other peaches he had no knowledge , as the real article was never seen in the houses he visited . Nothing was more natural than that he should most ardently long to talk with the older schoolboys about the wonders of the real world , where people ride in coaches , devastate cities , marry princesses , and stay up in the evening till after 10 o'clock -- even if it is n't a birthday . And then at the table one helps one 's self , and may select just whatever one wants to eat . So think children . Every boy has his heroic age , and humanity , as a whole , has worn the little coat with the big collar .