Nine o'clock
As certainty approached , and suspense was nearly terminated , Julian awaited his fate with sickening , almost with trembling anxiety . At nine o'clock he knew that the paper on which was written the name of the Clerkland scholar would be affixed to the senate-house door , but he did not venture to go and read it . He knew that , if he were successful , a hundred men would be eager to rush up to his rooms with the joyful intelligence ; if unsuccessful , he still trusted that he had one or two friends sufficiently sincere to put an end to his painful anxiety by telling him the news . Nine o'clock struck . Oh , for the sound of some footstep on the stairs ! Many must know the result by this time . Julian 's hopes were still high , and he could not fail to hear of the numerous and seemingly authoritative reports which had ascribed success to him .