six o'clock in the morning
Mr. Gray is seducing Sally to want to go to church . There has he been twice at my house , while I have been away in the mornings , talking to Sally about the state of her soul and that sort of thing . But when I found the meat all roasted to a cinder , I said , ` Come , Sally , let 's have no more praying when beef is down at the fire . Pray at six o'clock in the morning and nine at night , and I wo n't hinder you . ' So she sauced me , and said something about Martha and Mary , implying that , because she had let the beef get so overdone that I declare I could hardly find a bit for Nancy Pole 's sick grandchild , she had chosen the better part . I was very much put about , I own , and perhaps you 'll be shocked at what I said -- indeed , I do n't know if it was right myself -- but I told her I had a soul as well as she , and if it was to be saved by my sitting still and thinking about salvation and never doing my duty , I thought I had as good a right as she had to be Mary , and save my soul . So , that afternoon I sat quite still , and it was really a comfort , for I am often too busy , I know , to pray as I ought .