nine o'clock
His parents were rich , and they preferred that he should be educated at home ; they feared his learning evil as well as good at a large school . Hitherto this plan had been very successful , for Arthur was as studious and obedient as his tutors could possibly wish ; and this sudden and sad change made all around him unhappy . I will give you a history of one of these miserable days . `` On this morning , his tutor arrived , as usual , at nine o'clock ; and commenced by giving his pupil a lesson in penmanship . There was an ominous scowl on Arthur 's face . He twitched his copy-book before him , pretended he could not find a good pen , scratched and blotted the paper from top to bottom , and so , when the lesson was finished , the page was a sight to behold . '' ` You have not tried to write well , ' said his master , mildly . ''