nine o'clock
`` I did that when he first took to being out at night , but he always managed to get in somehow . '' `` Well , it must be all put a stop to , Bastow ; and I will come back with you this evening , and if this young rascal breaks into the house I will have him down at Reigate tomorrow on the charge of house breaking ; or , at any rate , I will threaten to do so if he does not give a promise that he will in future keep away from you altogether . '' `` I shall be glad , at any rate , if you will come down , Squire , for , to say the truth , I feel uneasy as to the steps he may take in his fury at our conversation just now . '' John Thorndyke took down from a wall a heavy hunting whip , as he went out with the parson at nine o'clock . He had in vain endeavored to cheer his old friend as they sat over their steaming glasses of Jamaica . The parson had never been a strong man ; he was of a kindly disposition , and an unwearied worker when there was an opportunity for work , but he had always shrunk from unpleasantness , and was ready to yield rather than bring about trouble . He had for a long time suffered in silence , and had not the Squire himself approached the subject of his son 's delinquencies , he would have never opened his mouth about it .