seven o'clock
I fell in with several old messmates ; they congratulated me on my promotion , and declared I should give them a dinner to wet my commission , to which I readily consented . The day was named , and Mr Billett was ordered to provide accordingly . Having dined _ solus _ , I amused myself in writing a long letter to my dear Emily ; and with the assistance of a bottle of wine , succeeded in composing a tolerably warm and rapturous sort of a document , which I sealed , kissed , and sent to the post-office ; after which , I built castles till bed time ; but not one castle did I build , in which Emily was not the sole mistress . I went to bed , and slept soundly ; and the next morning , by seven o'clock , I was arrayed in a spick-span new uniform , with an immensely large epaulette stuck on my right shoulder . Having breakfasted , I sallied out , and , in my own conceit , was as handsome a chap as ever buckled a sword belt . I skimmed with a light and vigorous foot down High-street . `` Boat , your honour ? ''