nine o'clock
The next day Mr. Walker arrived at Rippleton himself . The noble-hearted gentleman seemed to be in unusually good spirits , and the boys noticed that he and Captain Sedley often exchanged significant glances . They were all satisfied that something was about to happen , but they could not imagine what . Frank and Tony had been requested to invite their friends to assemble at Zephyr Hall at nine o'clock , on Wednesday morning ; so that when Mr. Walker entered the hall with Captain Sedley , the whole school , to the number of over seventy , were gathered there . Charles Hardy was there with the rest ; but he seemed to be a different boy . He had lost that forwardness which had often rendered him a disagreeable companion . He had been forgiven ; Mr. Walker had spoken to him very kindly , and all his friends treated him as though nothing had happened ; but for all this , he could not feel right .