eight in the evening
Quincy Adams Sawyer had not come down to Mason 's Corner with any idea of becoming a hermit . His father was a great lawyer and a very wealthy man . He had made Quincy a large allowance during his college days , and had doubled it when his only son entered his law office to complete his studies . Quincy had worked hard in two ways ; first , to read law , so as to realize the great anticipations that his father had concerning him ; second , he worked still harder between eight in the evening and one , two , and even four in the morning , to get rid of the too large allowance that his father made him . Like all great men , his father was unsuspicious and easily hoodwinked about family matters ; so when Quincy grew listless and on certain occasions fell asleep at his desk his renowned and indulgent father decided it was due to overwork and sent him down to Eastborough for a month 's rest and change of scene . His father had known Isaac Pettengill , and in fact had conducted many successful suits for him ; besides this he had drawn up the papers when Uncle Ike divided his fortune . Quincy 's father had written to Uncle Ike , asking him to find his son a boarding place , and Uncle Ike had selected Deacon Mason 's as the best place for him .