five o’clock
It was whispered that he was sweet upon one of Maxby 's sisters -LRB- Maxby lived close by , and was a day pupil -RRB- , and further that he ` favoured Maxby . ' As we remember , he taught Italian to Maxby 's sisters on half-holidays . He once went to the play with them , and wore a white waistcoat and a rose : which was considered among us equivalent to a declaration . We were of opinion on that occasion , that to the last moment he expected Maxby 's father to ask him to dinner at five o'clock , and therefore neglected his own dinner at half-past one , and finally got none . We exaggerated in our imaginations the extent to which he punished Maxby 's father 's cold meat at supper ; and we agreed to believe that he was elevated with wine and water when he came home . But , we all liked him ; for he had a good knowledge of boys , and would have made it a much better school if he had had more power . He was writing master , mathematical master , English master , made out the bills , mended the pens , and did all sorts of things .