ten o'clock
But sometimes great discoveries come from very small things , and Wrench 's Tom played his part in one of the little comedies of life , those of Terence and Plautus not being intended here . The examination-days were not looked forward to with joy by Dr Bewley 's pupils ; and , sad to say , Morris 's days were liked least . In fact , his was the only joyous countenance upon the morning after he had prepared the theatre , when he glanced round at the heavy expressions that pervaded the breakfast-tables . But possibly the most severe face in the room that morning was the Doctor 's , as he paid his customary visit , and he took it with him afterwards into the theatre , which he entered punctually at ten o'clock , when the boys were all assembled in their places , while the masters were all at their desks , ready under Morris 's leadership to sit out the examination , using their eyes , and making perfectly certain that no pupil whispered a question , furtively passed a piece of paper to another , or dipped down into his desk in search of a so-called helping `` crib . '' To use the schoolboy phrase popular at Plymborough -- `` What was up ? '' The Doctor rose deliberately upon his throne-like place at the end of the theatre , coughed sonorously , settled his plump chin in his very stiff white cravat , and then gazed frowningly through his spectacles at the assembled pupils . There was silence for quite a couple of minutes , and every boy present felt that the Doctor was singling him out and was about to speak to him about the committal of some fault , while internally he asked himself what it could be .