nine a.m.
Mr Moxton looked a little surprised at the question , but pointed to the outer office where the dishevelled clerk sat , and said , `` There . '' Ned fell to twenty below the freezing-point . `` And pray , sir , '' he continued , `` may I ask what are office-hours ? '' `` From nine a.m. till nine p.m. , with an interval for meals , '' said Mr Moxton , sharply ; `` but we usually continue at work till eleven at night , sometimes later . Good-morning . '' Ned fell to zero , and found himself in the street , with an indistinct impression of having heard the dishevelled clerk chuckling vociferously as he passed through the office . It was a hard struggle , a very hard struggle , but he recalled to mind all that his uncle had ever done for him , and the love he bore him , and manfully resolved to cast California behind his back for ever , and become a lawyer .