seven o'clock
A man appeared in shirt-sleeves of grey flannel and wheeled my boxes away on a little truck , and after a while a master came down and showed us , in a perfunctory manner , over the more presentable quarters of the school . My brother was anxious to get away , because he had not been emancipated long enough to find the atmosphere of dormitories and class-rooms agreeable . I was naturally interested , in my new environment , but the presence of the master constrained me , and I was afraid to speak in front of this unknown man whom it was my lot to obey , so we were all relieved when our hurried inspection was over . He told me that I was at liberty to do what I pleased till seven o'clock , so I went for a walk through the town with my brother . The day was drawing to a chill grey close , and the town was filled with a clammy mist tainted with the odour of sewage , due , I afterwards discovered , to the popular abuse of the little stream that gave the place its name . Even my brother could not entirely escape the melancholy influence of the hour and the place , and he was glad to take me into a baker 's shop and have tea . By now the illusion of adventure that had reconciled me to leaving home was in a desperate state , and I drank my tea and consumed my cakes without enjoyment .