six o’clock
He was a long time about it . There were two letters to write , and the wording of thorn needed to be very careful , besides that the old court hand took more time to frame than the Italian current hand , and even thus , when dinner-time came , at ten o'clock , the household was astonished to find that he had finished all that regarded Stephen , though he had left the letters open , until his own venture should have been made . Stephen flung himself down beside his brother hot and panting , shaking his shoulder-blades and declaring that his arms felt ready to drop out . He had been turning a grindstone ever since six o'clock . The two new apprentices had been set on to sharpening the weapon points as all that they were capable of , and had been bidden by Smallbones to turn and hold alternately , but `` that oaf Giles Headley , '' said Stephen , `` never ground but one lance , and made me go on turning , threatening to lay the butt about mine ears if I slacked . '' `` The lazy lubber ! '' cried Ambrose .