ten
o'clock at night
Then taking me with him he went to the farmer and in a very civil manner said that he understood I had not been very kindly treated by him , but he hoped that in future I should be used better . The farmer answered in a surly tone , that I had been only too well treated , for that I was a worthless young scoundrel ; high words ensued , and the farmer , forgetting the kind of man he had to deal with , checked him with my grandsire 's misfortune , and said he deserved to be hanged like his father . In a moment my father knocked him down , and on his getting up gave him a terrible beating , then taking me by the hand he hastened away ; as we were going down a lane he said we were now both done for : `` I do n't care a straw for that , father , '' said I , `` provided I be with you . '' My father took me to the neighbouring town , and going into the yard of a small inn , he ordered out a pony and light cart which belonged to him , then paying his bill , he told me to mount upon the seat , and getting up drove away like lightning ; we drove for at least six hours without stopping , till we came to a cottage by the side of a heath ; we put the pony and cart into a shed and went into the cottage , my father unlocking the door with a key which he took out of his pocket ; there was nobody in the cottage when we arrived , but shortly after there came a man and woman , and then some more people , and by ten o'clock at night there were a dozen of us in the cottage . The people were companions of my father . My father began talking to them in Latin , but I did not understand much of the discourse , though I believe it was about myself , as their eyes were frequently turned to me . Some objections appeared to be made to what he said ; however , all at last seemed to be settled , and we all sat down to some food .