ten o'clock
He repeatedly got up and walked about two or three little steps , which were all that his room admitted of . At the very first peep of daylight he started out of bed , got out of his pocket the newspaper which Huckaback had lent him , strove to decipher the advertisement , and then sank into bed again -- but not to sleep , till four or five o'clock ; having nevertheless to rise at half-past six , to resume his detested duties at Tag-rag and Co. 's , whose shop he assisted in opening at seven o'clock , as usual . When he and his shopmates were sitting together at breakfast , he could not for the life of him help letting out a little , vaguely and mysteriously , about `` something that _ might _ happen in the course of the day ; '' and thereby succeeded in satisfying his experienced companions that he expected the visit of a policeman , for some _ row _ he had been concerned in over-night . -- Well : -- eight , nine , ten o'clock wore away heavily , and nothing transpired , alas ! to vary the monotonous duties in which Mr. Titmouse was engaged ; bale after bale , and package after package , he took down and put up again , at the bidding of pretty , capricious customers ; silk , satin , bombazines , crapes , muslins , ribbons , gloves , he assisted in displaying , disposing of , or replacing as usual ; but it was clear that his powerful understanding could no longer settle itself , as before , upon his responsible and arduous duties . Every other minute he cast a feverish furtive glance towards the door . He almost dropped , at one time , as a postman crossed from the opposite side of the street , as if to enter their shop -- then passing on immediately , however , to the next door .