three in the morning
Then I put in a spell of field-work with Nils and was haymaking for some days . Early in August it was . Now , when I went back to my painting again I had settled in my mind to start on the house as early as possible , so as to be well on the way with it before the Captain was up -- too far , if I could manage it , to go back ! I started at three in the morning ; there was a heavy dew , and I had to rub the woodwork over with a bit of sack . I worked away for an hour , and then had coffee , then on again till eight . I knew the Captain would be getting up then , so I went off to help Nils for an hour and be out of the way . I had done as much as I wanted , and my idea now was to give the Captain time to get over the shock of my grey , in case he should have got up in an irritable mood .