nine
o’clock in the morning
No answer being returned to a couple of soft taps , the lady opens the door , and there , sure enough , is Mr. Sliverstone , with dishevelled hair , powdering away with pen , ink , and paper , at a rate which , if he has any power of sustaining it , would settle the longest sermon in no time . At first he is too much absorbed to be roused by this intrusion ; but presently looking up , says faintly , ` Ah ! ' and pointing to his desk with a weary and languid smile , extends his hand , and hopes you 'll forgive him . Then Mrs. Sliverstone sits down beside him , and taking his hand in hers , tells you how that Mr. Sliverstone has been shut up there ever since nine o'clock in the morning , -LRB- it is by this time twelve at noon , -RRB- and how she knows it can not be good for his health , and is very uneasy about it . Unto this Mr. Sliverstone replies firmly , that ` It must be done ; ' which agonizes Mrs. Sliverstone still more , and she goes on to tell you that such were Mr. Sliverstone 's labours last week -- what with the buryings , marryings , churchings , christenings , and all together , -- that when he was going up the pulpit stairs on Sunday evening , he was obliged to hold on by the rails , or he would certainly have fallen over into his own pew . Mr. Sliverstone , who has been listening and smiling meekly , says , ` Not quite so bad as that , not quite so bad ! ' he admits though , on cross-examination , that he _ was _ very near falling upon the verger who was following him up to bolt the door ; but adds , that it was his duty as a Christian to fall upon him , if need were , and that he , Mr. Sliverstone , and -LRB- possibly the verger too -RRB- ought to glory in it .