Wednesday at
two o’clock
One bleak autumn when Isaac was getting on fast toward forty and when he was as usual out of place through no fault of his own , he set forth , from his mother 's cottage on a long walk inland to a gentleman 's seat where he had heard that a stable-helper was required . It wanted then but two days of his birthday ; and Mrs. Scatchard , with her usual fondness , made him promise , before he started , that he would be back in time to keep that anniversary with her , in as festive a way as their poor means would allow . It was easy for him to comply with this request , even supposing he slept a night each way on the road . He was to start from home on Monday morning , and , whether he got the new place or not , he was to be back for his birthday dinner on Wednesday at two o'clock . Arriving at his destination too late on the Monday night to make application for the stablehelper 's place , he slept at the village inn , and in good time on the Tuesday morning presented himself at the gentleman 's house to fill the vacant situation . Here again his ill luck pursued him as inexorably as ever . The excellent written testimonials to his character which he was able to produce availed him nothing ; his long walk had been taken in vain : only the day before the stable-helper 's place had been given to another man .