On Monday morning there was a dreadful ordeal called Reading Over.
The headmaster, arrayed in a silk gown, used to descend from an upper-floor staircase which was hidden from view by a red curtain; on his right sat two masters, on his left sat two others in gowns.
In front of him the whole school were assembled on chairs.
Each division was called up in turn and stood in the order of the last weeks marks; they changed their places as the marks were read out, according to the variation of the week.
Thus, sometimes a boy who had been nearly at the top would go down nearly to the bottom.
Then the comments on the boys work were made by each division master, and any striking event of the week were read out by the headmaster.