nine o'clock
The consequence was , that in these dormitories the boys felt perfectly secure from any interruption . There were only two ways by which a master could get at them -- one up the great staircase , and through the lavatory ; the other by a door at the extreme end of the range , which led into Dr Rowlands 's house , but was generally kept locked . In each dormitory slept four or five boys , distributed by their order in the school list , so that , in all the dormitories , there were nearly sixty ; and of these a goodly number were , on Eric 's arrival , collected in the boarders ' room , the rest being in their studies , or in the classrooms , which some were allowed to use in order to prevent too great a crowd in the room below . At nine o'clock the prayer-bell rang . This was the signal for all the boarders to take their seats for prayers , each with an open Bible before him ; and when the school-servants had also come in , Dr Rowlands read a chapter , and offered up an extempore prayer . While reading , he generally interspersed a few pointed remarks or graphic explanations , and Eric learnt much in this simple way . The prayer , though short , was always well suited to the occasion , and calculated to carry with it the attention of the worshippers .