seven o'clock
And the deputation , remembering Barber 's head and the water tank , withdrew , very much perplexed what to do to uphold the dignity of the `` chapel . '' They decided to keep their `` eye '' on him , and as they were able to do this at a distance , Reginald had no objection at all to their decision . He meanwhile was keeping his eye on Gedge and Mr Durfy , and about a fortnight after his arrival at the _ Rocket _ , a passage of arms occurred which , slight as it was , had a serious influence on the future of all three parties concerned . The seven o'clock bell had rung , and this being one of Horace 's late evenings , Reginald proposed to Gedge to stroll home with him and call and see Mrs Cruden . The boy accepted readily , and the two were starting off arm in arm when Mr Durfy confronted them . Reginald , who had never met his adversary beyond the precincts of the _ Rocket _ before , did not for a moment recognise the vulgar , loudly dressed little man , sucking his big cigar and wearing his pot hat ostentatiously on one side ; but when he did he turned contemptuously aside and said , -- `` Come on , young ` un . '' `` Come on , young ` un ! ''