seven in the morning
And this was the case . They won the fourth match , which was against a comparatively weak team . This , however , encouraged them , and they were victorious in the next two contests , although in the second their opponents were considered a strong team , and their victory had been regarded as certain . The improvement in the River-Smithites ' team became a topic of conversation in the college , and there were rumours that they had put themselves into regular training , and that some one had seen them come in in a body at seven in the morning after having been for a run . The challenge cup matches were now at hand , and as it happened they were drawn to meet the Greenites , and the match was regarded with special interest throughout the school . The rivalry between the two houses was notorious , and although the Greenites scoffed at the idea of their being defeated by a team they had before so easily beaten , the great improvement the latter had made gave promise that the struggle would be an exceptionally severe one . Skinner had for some days before looked after the team with extreme vigilance , scarcely letting one of them out of his sight , lest they might eat forbidden things , or in other ways transgress the rules laid down .