A quarter past one
-LSB- 22 -RSB- #Præpostors # : the members of the sixth form , the highest class in the school . They were charged with the duty of looking after the other boys . TOM 'S FIRST RUGBY DINNER . A quarter past one now struck , and the bell began tolling for dinner , so they went into the hall and took their places , Tom at the very bottom of the second table , next to the præpostor -LRB- who sat at the end to keep order there -RRB- , and East a few paces higher . And now Tom for the first time saw his future school-fellows in a body . In they came , some hot and ruddy from foot-ball or long walks , some pale and chilly from hard reading -LSB- 23 -RSB- in their studies , some from loitering over the fire at the pastry-cook 's , dainty mortals , bringing with them pickles and sauce-bottles to help them with their dinners . And a great big-bearded man , whom Tom took for a master , began calling over the names , while the great joints were being rapidly carved on the third table in the corner by the old verger -LSB- 24 -RSB- and the housekeeper .