Ten o'clock
`` Your little conscience was always too tender . '' Two years passed . Life stirred again in the Vicarage , feebly and slowly , with the slow and feeble stirring of the Vicar 's brain . Ten o'clock was prayer time again . Twice every Sunday the Vicar appeared in his seat in the chancel . Twice he pronounced the Absolution . Twice he tottered to the altar rails , turned , shifted his stick from his left hand to his right , and , with his one good arm raised , he gave the Benediction .