seven o'clock
He wore a high white stock and neckcloth ; his plaid hung round his emaciated shoulders with a certain antique dignity ; his rusty wideawake covered hair still abundant and even curly , but snow-white ; the face , with its white eyebrows , was long , thin , and full of an ascetic delicacy . ` Wal , Davy , my lad , ' the old man said at last , with a sort of pompous mildness ; ` I winna blame yo for ` t , but yo interrupted me sadly wi yur whistlin . I ha been occupied this day wi business o ' _ graat _ importance . His Majesty King Charles has been wi me since seven o'clock this mornin . And for th ' fust time I ha been gettin reet to th ' _ bottom _ o ' things wi him . I ha been _ probin _ him , Davy -- probin him . He couldno riddle through wi lees ; I kept him to ` t , as yo mun keep a horse to a jump -- straight an tight .