half past eight
Mr. Porson then took Mather into his study , where they remained for half an hour . What passed between them was never known . In the morning the boys who slept in the room with Mather were surprised to find that his bed was empty and the window open . He had gone to bed at half past eight as usual , and saying he was sleepy had threatened to punch the head of any boy who spoke , so that all had gone off to sleep in a very short time . A stout ivy grew against the wall , and some fallen leaves on the ground showed them that he had climbed down with the assistance of its stem . But why he should have gone , and what on earth possessed him to run away , none could imagine . The news ran rapidly through the other bedrooms , and brimful of excitement all went down when the bell rang for prayers before breakfast .