a
quarter to eight
Tom uttered a sigh full of relief as they went back to the cottage , and that night slept soundly enough , never once giving a thought to the documents in the old mill , which had suddenly turned him from a penniless lad into one with a few thousands to start in life when he came of age . That next morning when Tom jumped out of bed , he felt light-hearted , and ready for anything . He threw open his window to have a look round , and knew by a low whistling that David had come to work . Then reaching out to have a look at the mill , with his head full of telescope , he stared , for the door was open ; and excited by this , and fearing something was wrong , he hurriedly dressed , went down , and found that it only wanted a quarter to eight . `` And I thought it was only about half-past six , '' he muttered , as he hurried out and across to the mill . All was still there , and he looked round , but nothing appeared to have been disturbed ; but upon looking up he could see the keys were in the laboratory door , and he paused with his heart beating . `` Pooh ! ''