twelve o'clock
And so , after a half confession of his previous shortcomings , and sorrowful adieus to his tutor , from whom he received two beautifully-bound volumes of the Doctor 's sermons , as a parting present , he marched down to the Schoolhouse , a hero-worshipper , who would have satisfied the soul of Thomas Carlyle himself . There he found the eleven at high jinks after supper , Jack Raggles shouting comic songs and performing feats of strength , and was greeted by a chorus of mingled remonstrance at his desertion and joy at his reappearance . And falling in with the humour of the evening , he was soon as great a boy as all the rest ; and at ten o'clock was chaired round the quadrangle , on one of the hall benches , borne aloft by the eleven , shouting in chorus , `` For he 's a jolly good fellow , '' while old Thomas , in a melting mood , and the other School-house servants , stood looking on . And the next morning after breakfast he squared up all the cricketing accounts , went round to his tradesmen and other acquaintance , and said his hearty good-byes ; and by twelve o'clock was in the train , and away for London , no longer a school-boy , and divided in his thoughts between hero-worship , honest regrets over the long stage of his life which was now slipping out of sight behind him , and hopes and resolves for the next stage upon which he was entering with all the confidence of a young traveller . `` Strange friend , past , present , and to be ; Loved deeplier , darklier understood ; Behold I dream a dream of good , And mingle all the world with thee . '' -- TENNYSON . In the summer of 1842 , our hero stopped once again at the well-known station ; and leaving his bag and fishing-rod with a porter , walked slowly and sadly up towards the town .