about seven in the
evening
But as soon as he found that the Peacock arrangement would get him to Rugby by twelve o'clock in the day , whereas otherwise he would n't be there till the evening , all other plans melted away ; his one absorbing aim being to become a public-school boy as fast as possible , and six hours sooner or later seeming to him of the most alarming importance . -LSB- 5 -RSB- #Belle Sauvage # : a famous old inn , formerly in the centre of London . -LSB- 6 -RSB- #Star # : the name of the coach which brought the Squire and Tom to London . Tom and his father had alighted at the Peacock at about seven in the evening ; and having heard with unfeigned joy the paternal order at the bar , of steaks and oyster-sauce for supper in half an hour , and seen his father seated cosily by the bright fire in the coffee-room with the paper in his hand , Tom had run out to see about him , had wondered at all the vehicles passing and repassing , and had fraternized with the boots and hostler , from whom he ascertained that the Tally-ho was a tip-top goer , ten miles an hour including stoppages , and so punctual that all the road set their clocks by her . SQUIRE BROWN 'S PARTING WORDS . Then being summoned to supper , he had regaled himself in one of the bright little boxes -LSB- 7 -RSB- of the Peacock coffee-room , on the beefsteak and unlimited oyster-sauce ; had at first attended to the excellent advice which his father was bestowing on him and then begun nodding , from the united effects of the fire and the lecture . Till the Squire , observing Tom 's state , and remembering that it was nearly nine o'clock , and that the Tally-ho left at three , sent the little fellow off to the chambermaid , with a shake of the hand -LRB- Tom having stipulated in the morning before starting , that kissing should now cease between them -RRB- and a few parting words .