9 o'clock
Upon this the tutor , a priggish youth , retorted hotly that he should hope his Cambridge studies , for which his parents had pinched themselves by many small economies , had at least taught him to discriminate between the _ agarici _ . Mr. Locke in vain endeavoured to divert the conversation upon the scope and objects of a university education , and fell back on suggesting that the alleged mushrooms should be stewed , and the stew stirred with a silver spoon , when , if the spoon showed no discolouration , he would take back his opinion that they contained phosphorus in appreciable quantities . He was called an empiricist for his pains ; and Mrs. Robinson -LRB- who hated a dispute and invariably melted at any allusion to the tutor 's _ res angusta domi _ -RRB- weakly gave way . The mushrooms were cooked and pronounced excellent by the entire family , of whom Mrs. Robinson expired at 8.30 that evening , the tutor at 9 o'clock , the faithful domestic Wilkins and Master Eustace shortly after midnight , and an Alsatian cook , attached to the establishment , some time in the small hours . The poor child , who had partaken but sparingly , lingered until the next noon before succumbing . '' `` A strange fatality ! '' commented Mr. Badcock .