four o'clock
`` I am very glad to hear it , John ; only I think if you take another walk with us , we must bargain to have no spurs . '' `` No , no , '' said John , laughing , `` you may be sure of that ; I had enough of them yesterday . '' They found Mr. Laurie at home ; who very readily agreed to the proposal of John 's learning to read at the Manse , and promised that he should attend regularly . He said , he must come into his service on the next Tuesday morning , and , as he required him to set off by four o'clock for the hill , he thought it would be best for John to sleep at the farm on Monday evening . He promised to send his own shepherd along with him , for the first day or two , to show him the method of managing the sheep ; and also to train the dogs to obey him readily . John was greatly pleased with this promise , and returned to the Manse , in high spirits . Helen had finished her lessons and was walking out with her mother ; but it being Saturday , Mr. Martin , as was his constant custom on that day , shut himself up in his study , to prepare for the duty of the Sabbath .