eight
o'clock
While I write , Mr. Trevanion reads the newspapers , examines what I have done , makes notes therefrom , -- some for Parliament , some for conversation , some for correspondence , -- skims over the Parliamentary papers of the morning , and jots down directions for extracting , abridging , and comparing them with others , perhaps twenty years old . At eleven he walks down to a Committee of the House of Commons , -- leaving me plenty to do , -- till half-past three , when he returns . At four , Fanny puts her head into the room -- and I lose mine . Four days in the week Mr. Trevanion then disappears for the rest of the day ; dines at Bellamy 's or a club ; expects me at the House at eight o'clock , in case he thinks of something , wants a fact or a quotation . He then releases me , -- generally with a fresh list of instructions . But I have my holidays , nevertheless . On Wednesdays and Saturdays Mr. Trevanion gives dinners , and I meet the most eminent men of the day , on both sides ; for Trevanion is on both sides himself , -- or no side at all , which comes to the same thing .