At the appointed time--or rather before the appointed time, for they arrived at twenty minutes past six--our two heroes, arrayed in their Sunday jackets and white ties, presented themselves at the house of their host.

They had "put it on" considerably in order to get ahead of the doctor's party; for they considered that--as Parson expressed it--"it would be a jolly lot less blushy work" to be there before the head master arrived.

There was no doubt about their success in this little manoeuvre, for when the servant opened the door the hall was full of rout seats, and a man, uncommonly like the greengrocer, in a dress coat, was busily unpacking plates out of a small hamper.
Into this scene of confusion Parson and Telson were ushered, and here they were left standing for about five minutes, interested spectators, till the hall was cleared and the domestic had leisure to go and tell Master Harry of their arrival.
Master Harry was dressing, and sent down word they had better go into the shoe-room till he came down.

Which they did, and amused themselves during the interval with trying on Mr Brown's Wellingtons, and tying together the laces of all Harry's boots they could discover.
In due time Harry appeared in grand array.

"How jolly early you are!" was his hospitable greeting.