about eight in the
morning
And I do . You 'll get yourself right at last , and there 's my hand on it , if you 'll take it . '' Nora took the hand that was offered to her , held it in her own for some seconds , and then walked back to the house and up to her own room in silence . The post used to come into Nuncombe Putney at about eight in the morning , carried thither by a wooden-legged man who rode a donkey . There is a general understanding that the wooden-legged men in country parishes should be employed as postmen , owing to the great steadiness of demeanour which a wooden leg is generally found to produce . It may be that such men are slower in their operations than would be biped postmen ; but as all private employers of labour demand labourers with two legs , it is well that the lame and halt should find a refuge in the less exacting service of the government . The one-legged man who rode his donkey into Nuncombe Putney would reach his post-office not above half an hour after his proper time ; but he was very slow in stumping round the village , and seldom reached the Clock House much before ten .