nine o'clock
`` No , I sha n't -- not if we 've had our fun first . I shall turn philosophical , and say : ` You ca n't eat your cake and have it ' , and ` Every dog has his day ' , or any other little platitude I can think of . In the meantime , it 's our day , and I 'm glad to see it 's a particularly fine one . '' At precisely nine o'clock , just when the rest of the Chessingtonians were filing into classes , the Chaddites were assembled in the quadrangle , and at a signal from Miss Maitland started off , two and two , to walk to Dunscar , where they were to catch the steamer to Avonmouth , the nearest point for Baldurstone . Everything seemed delightful -- the brisk march in the fresh morning air , the bright sunshine , the glinting , sparkling sea , the foam churned up by the steamer 's revolving screw , the cries of the seagulls , and the steady motion of the vessel as she headed out of the bay . The breeze in the Channel was exhilarating , and so cool as to make the girls appreciate Miss Maitland 's wisdom in having insisted upon all bringing wraps . `` I thought it seemed as foolish as carrying one 's winter fur and muff on a broiling day like this , '' commented Lettice , `` but I really think I should have been cold without my coat .