four o'clock
The way is open to each and all of you ; but it is steep and rugged , yes , and slippery ; and you must toil and sweat and watch if you would reach the summit . Would you know exactly how Ishmael managed this stage of his toilsome ascent ? I will tell you . He arose at four o'clock those winter mornings , dressed quickly and went into the judge 's study , where he made the fire himself , because the servants would not be astir for hours ; then he sat down with the pile of letters that had come by the night 's mail ; he looked over the judge 's hints regarding them , and then went to work and answered letters or copied documents for four hours , or until the breakfast bell rung , when he joined Claudia and her father at table . After breakfast he attended the judge in his study ; submitted to his inspection the morning 's work ; then took them to the post office , posted them , brought back the letters that arrived by the morning 's mail , and left them with the judge to be read . This would bring him to about eleven o'clock , when he went to the City Hall , to watch the proceedings of the circuit court , making careful notes and comparing them with his own private readings of law . He returned from the circuit court about two o'clock ; spent the afternoon in answering the letters left for him by the judge ; dined late with the family ; took the second lot of letters to the post office , and returned with those that came by the evening mail ; gave them to the judge for examination , and then went up to his room to spend the evening in reading law and comparing notes .