eight in the morning
But now that the days were longer and more cheerful , he was beginning to urge the necessity of my return ; and I only delayed in a sort of odd forlorn hope that if I could obtain any clear information , I might make the account given by the signora of the Aga Jenkyns tally with that of `` poor Peter , '' his appearance and disappearance , which I had winnowed out of the conversation of Miss Pole and Mrs Forrester . THE very Tuesday morning on which Mr Johnson was going to show the fashions , the post-woman brought two letters to the house . I say the post-woman , but I should say the postman 's wife . He was a lame shoemaker , a very clean , honest man , much respected in the town ; but he never brought the letters round except on unusual occasions , such as Christmas Day or Good Friday ; and on those days the letters , which should have been delivered at eight in the morning , did not make their appearance until two or three in the afternoon , for every one liked poor Thomas , and gave him a welcome on these festive occasions . He used to say , `` He was welly stawed wi ' eating , for there were three or four houses where nowt would serve 'em but he must share in their breakfast ; '' and by the time he had done his last breakfast , he came to some other friend who was beginning dinner ; but come what might in the way of temptation , Tom was always sober , civil , and smiling ; and , as Miss Jenkyns used to say , it was a lesson in patience , that she doubted not would call out that precious quality in some minds , where , but for Thomas , it might have lain dormant and undiscovered . Patience was certainly very dormant in Miss Jenkyns 's mind . She was always expecting letters , and always drumming on the table till the post-woman had called or gone past .