nine in the morning
Keith lay back in his , graceful in his abandoned attitude ; Isaac sat up very straight and stiff , crushing in his knees the soft felt hat that made him look for ever like a Methodist parson . His eyes rested heavily on the littered table . `` Well , '' he said , `` how long have you been at it ? '' `` Oh , ever since nine in the morning -- '' -LRB- Longer hours than he had in the shop -RRB- ; '' -- and -- I 've two more hours to put through still . '' -LRB- And yet he had received him gladly . -RRB- `` It does n't look quite as easy as making catalogues . '' `` It is n't . ''