nearly midnight
From the hall below Theresa called up , `` Ma , come down here . _ Ma ! _ '' But Mrs. Zapp was too well started . `` If you think Ah 'm going to stand for a lazy sneaking little drunkard keeping the whole street awake , and here it is prett ' nearly midnight -- '' Just then Mr. William Wrenn saw and heard the most astounding thing of his life , and became an etemal slave to Tom Poppins . Tom 's broad face became hard , his voice businesslike . He shouted at Mrs. Zapp : `` Beat it or I 'll run you in . Trouble with you is , you old hag , you do n't appreciate a nice quiet little chap like Wrenn , and you try to bully him -- and him here for years .