seven o'clock
Robert walked slowly back to his humble home , almost wishing that the night were over and his journey actually begun . There was but one way out of Cook 's Harbor -- that is , by land . A stage left the village every morning for Kaneville , six miles distant , a small station on a road which terminated many miles away in Boston . The stage started at seven o'clock , so Robert was forced to get up betimes , take an early breakfast and walk up to the tavern . Mr. Jones , the landlord , was standing on the piazza when Robert made his appearance . He had no proprietary right in the stage line , but the driver generally stopped overnight at the tavern and the horses were kept in his stable , so that he had come to assume a certain air of proprietorship . As Robert was climbing up to take a seat by the driver Mr. Jones , with a frown , called out : `` Look here , you young rascal , come right down ! ''