eight o'clock
His uncle would get the letter between three and four , and he might have an answer half an hour afterwards . Hour after hour passed , and , except the servant who brought up his tea , no one came near him . He reasoned to himself that his uncle might be out . At eight o'clock he heard a noise on the stairs ; a number of feet approached his room , and then the door opened , and the whole of the boys in the boarding-house poured in . `` Norris , old fellow , '' Harris said , `` we could stop away no longer , and in spite of orders we have come to see you . I beg to tell you in the name of the whole house , and I may say the whole School , that not a boy here believes you to be guilty . How the note came into your hands we do n't know and we do n't care , but we are certain you did not take it . ''