a quarter to seven
There was no sound as he sat staring in front of him as the light of the lamp grew dim in the coming light of day , there was no movement anywhere save for the chequered curtain behind his friend , which stirred as though blown by the wind of dawn ; they seemed to be alone , quite alone in the desert , these two who had been known as David and Jonathan in the care-free days on the Hill . And he turned his head and looked at the wonderful beauty of the calm face , and in the soft light it seemed that the brown eyes were looking at him from under half-closed lids , and he stretched out his hand and laid it on the arms which were folded across the breast in an attitude of surpassing dignity . `` Carden , old fellow , '' he said , `` wake up ! '' As his friend slept on , he spoke more clearly , repeating the line out of the school-song , which had acted like a charm in those days when love , and pain , and death had been mere words to them : `` Carden , '' he called , `` Carden , ' _ it 's a quarter to seven , there goes the bell _ ! ' '' And when there came no answer he turned and buried his head on his arms . So he sat and kept his vigil with never a thought to the outcome of it all . Servants there must be somewhere , he knew , but time enough to explain things when they appeared ; time enough to face the world with the terrible tale ; time -- oh !