nine o'clock
And forthwith he launched into a sea-story more enthralling by far to the boy than any in that library so stocked with sea-stories . At dinner again , at night , the talk was the same . The usually silent ruminative old man was positively loquacious , and John gave him a rapt attention . When nine o'clock struck a dim remembrance come to the boy that he was still a pupil of Wygate School and had home tasks to prepare for the morrow . But he had slipped too far out of his groove to go back again that night . He began to wander in and out of the lower floor rooms ; out of the front door , round the verandah , and in by the French windows to the dining-room . `` I 'll chuck school , '' he said .