two o’clock in the morning
The ears hung at different angles , negligently ; and the macabre figure of that mute dweller on the earth steamed straight up from ribs and backbone in the muggy stillness of the air . The cabman struck lightly Stevie 's breast with the iron hook protruding from a ragged , greasy sleeve . `` Look ' ere , young feller . ' Ow 'd _ you _ like to sit behind this ' oss up to two o'clock in the morning p ' raps ? '' Stevie looked vacantly into the fierce little eyes with red-edged lids . `` He ai n't lame , '' pursued the other , whispering with energy . `` He ai n't got no sore places on ' im . '