a quarter past seven
`` It 's a boss play , dey tell me . '' `` I hope it is , as I am going myself . '' The theatre was near at hand , and the two boys soon stood before it . It was rather early , being only a quarter past seven , but a small crowd of boys was already waiting for a chance to obtain admission to the gallery . There seemed to be no hurry about buying a ticket , and Bert took a standing position near the box office , surveying with interest the passers by . All at once he felt a hand on his shoulder , and these words fell upon his ear : `` We meet again , my dear boy . Shake ! ''