twelve o’clock
`` I wo n't answer for guillemots , '' said the General , `` but nothing seems to come amiss to Fergus , though his chief turn is for stones . '' There was a connection between the families , Bernard Underwood , the youngest brother of Lance , having married the elder sister of the aforesaid Fergus Merrifield . Miss Mohun , the sister who made a home for the General , had looked out the house that Lance had come to inspect . As it was nearly half-past twelve o'clock , the party went round by the school , where , in the rear of the other rushing boys , came Fergus , in all the dignity of the senior form . `` Look at him , '' said the General , `` those are honours one only gets once or twice in one 's life , before beginning at the bottom again . '' Fergus graciously received the introduction ; and the next sound that was heard was , `` Have you any good fossils about you ? '' in a tone as if he doubted whether so small a boy knew what a fossil meant ; but little Felix was equal to the occasion .