nine
o'clock
So he encouraged Tom in his intimacy with the village boys , and gave them the run of a close for a playground . Great was the grief among them when Tom drove off with the squire one morning , to meet the coach , on his way to Rugby , to school . It had been resolved that Tom should travel down by the Tally-ho , which passed through Rugby itself ; and as it was an early coach , they drove out to the Peacock Inn , at Islington , to be on the road . Towards nine o'clock , the squire , observing that Tom was getting sleepy , sent the little fellow off to bed , with a few parting words , the result of much thought . `` And now , Tom , my boy , '' said the squire , `` remember you are going , at your own earnest request , to be chucked into this great school , like a young bear , with all your troubles before you -- earlier than we should have sent you , perhaps . You 'll see a great many cruel blackguard things done , and hear a deal of foul , bad talk . But never fear .