a quarter
past six
He would discard the petty successes of pedantry , and would seek a loftier greatness . He had been a fool to trouble himself about such trifles . And as these arrogant mists clouded his fancy , he broke out into irregular snatches of unmeaning song . It was a saint 's - day evening , and consequently chapel was at a quarter past six instead of six , and the undergraduates wore surplices in chapel instead of their ordinary gowns . On saints ' - days there is always a choral service at Saint Werner 's College , and the excellence of the choir generally attracted a large congregation . To Julian , who was fond of music , these saint 's - day services had a peculiar interest ; and now while his brain was swimming with the fumes of wine , he determined to go to chapel , and imagined to himself the pleasure he should feel in striding haughtily through the throng of men up the long aisle to the sizar 's seat , to show by his look and manner that his courage was undaunted , and that his self-confidence rose superior to defeat . Although the chapel-bell had not yet begun to ring , he put out his cap and surplice , and sat down to drink more wine .