seven in the evening
But I am glad she turned me out of the chamber as she did : for I had once almost forgotten every word parson Adams had ever said to me . `` I do n't doubt , dear sister , but you will have grace to preserve your virtue against all trials ; and I beg you earnestly to pray I may be enabled to preserve mine ; for truly it is very severely attacked by more than one ; but I hope I shall copy your example , and that of Joseph my namesake , and maintain my virtue against all temptations . '' Joseph had not finished his letter , when he was summoned downstairs by Mr Peter Pounce , to receive his wages ; for , besides that out of eight pounds a year he allowed his father and mother four , he had been obliged , in order to furnish himself with musical instruments , to apply to the generosity of the aforesaid Peter , who , on urgent occasions , used to advance the servants their wages : not before they were due , but before they were payable ; that is , perhaps , half a year after they were due ; and this at the moderate premium of fifty per cent , or a little more : by which charitable methods , together with lending money to other people , and even to his own master and mistress , the honest man had , from nothing , in a few years amassed a small sum of twenty thousand pounds or thereabouts . Joseph having received his little remainder of wages , and having stript off his livery , was forced to borrow a frock and breeches of one of the servants -LRB- for he was so beloved in the family , that they would all have lent him anything -RRB- : and , being told by Peter that he must not stay a moment longer in the house than was necessary to pack up his linen , which he easily did in a very narrow compass , he took a melancholy leave of his fellow-servants , and set out at seven in the evening . He had proceeded the length of two or three streets , before he absolutely determined with himself whether he should leave the town that night , or , procuring a lodging , wait till the morning . At last , the moon shining very bright helped him to come to a resolution of beginning his journey immediately , to which likewise he had some other inducements ; which the reader , without being a conjurer , can not possibly guess , till we have given him those hints which it may be now proper to open . _ Of several new matters not expected .