nine o'clock
At that moment the unconscious schoolboy was to him the most interesting person in the whole world , and he could n't realise the fact that , before the day was over , he would be a Roslyn boy himself . He very much wondered what sort of a fellow the boy was , and whether he should ever recognise him again , and make his acquaintance . Yes , Eric , the thread of that boy 's destiny is twined for many a day with yours ; his name is Montagu , as you will know very soon . At nine o'clock Mr Williams started towards the school with his son . The walk led them by the sea-side , over the sands , and past the ruin , at the foot of which the waves broke at high tide . At any other time Eric would have been overflowing with life and wonder at the murmur of the ripples , the sight of the ships in the bay or on the horizon , and the numberless little shells , with their bright colours and sculptured shapes , which lay about the beach . But now his mind was too full of a single anxiety ; and when , after crossing a green playground , they stood by the head-master 's door , his heart fluttered , and it required all his energy to keep down the nervous trembling which shook him .