eight
o'clock
One passer-by stopped to enquire if there was going to be a Battle of Flowers . Six barrows , laden with flowering plants , each pulled by two boys , and pushed by one , were slowly but steadily travelling towards the town , and at the rear of all was a bath-chair in charge of Hallett and Armitage , wherein sat a thin , delicate-looking man , whose bright eyes and flushed cheeks spoke eloquently of gratitude and pleasure . That bath-chair was Hallett 's own idea , and he was very proud of it . * * * * * It was a warm and weary company of boy-labourers who gathered at eight o'clock that evening round a very tempting supper-table , spread in the Brincliffe dining-room , to which , by special invitation , the day-pupils sat down with the boarders . But every face was bright , and the meal was the merriest ever known . By Mr. West 's direction , the boys were left to enjoy it `` un-mastered '' . The clatter of knives and spoons had almost ceased when Vickers rose slowly to his feet , a glass of ginger-beer in his hand .