eleven o'clock
` Come in , John , ' says he . ` No , ' said I ; ` I am goin ' to post some letters , ' for I was afraid that he would smell my breath if I went too near to him . ` Yes , yes , come in . ' So I went in , and says he , ` It 's now eleven o'clock ; that 's about the time you take your grog , I s ` pose , when you are at home . ' ` Yes , ' said I. ` I am sorry for you , my lad ; you ca n't get anything up here ; you ca n't even get it at the chemist 's , except as medicine , and then you must let them mix it and you take it in their presence . ' ` This is indeed hard , ' replied I ; ` Well , it ca n't be helped , ' continued he : ` and it ought not to be if it could . It 's best for society ; people 's better off without drink .