two o'clock before
-- Ah , ha ! -- Thoughts such as these so occupied his mind , that he did not for a long while observe that he was walking at a rapid rate towards the Mile-end road , having left Whitechapel church nearly half a mile behind him ! The possible master of £ 10,000 a-year was nearly dropping with fatigue , and sudden apprehension of the storm he should have to encounter when he first saw Mr. Tag-rag after so unduly prolonged an absence on his errand . He was detained for a cruel length of time at Messrs. Shuttle and Weaver 's ; who , not having the exact kind of silk required by their imperious customer at that moment on their premises , had some difficulty in obtaining it , after having sent for it to one or two neighboring manufactories ; by which means it came to pass that it was two o'clock before Titmouse , completely exhausted , had returned to Tag-rag and Company 's . The gentlemen of the shop had finished their dinners . `` Go up-stairs and get your dinner , sir ! '' exclaimed Tag-rag , sternly , after having received Messrs. Shuttle and Weaver 's obsequious message of apologies and hopes .