eleven at night
God convert us both ! I believe no man has two such servants as I have . Because I treat them with kindness , and do not lord it over my inferiors , and d -- n and curse them by looks and words like Mowbray ; or beat their teeth out like Lovelace ; but cry , Pr ` ythee , Harry , do this , and , Pr ` ythee , Jonathan , do that ; the fellows pursue their own devices , and regard nothing I say , but what falls in with these . Here , this vile Harry , who might have brought your letter of yesterday in good time , came not in with it till past eleven at night -LRB- drunk , I suppose -RRB- ; and concluding that I was in bed , as he pretends -LRB- because he was told I sat up the preceding night -RRB- brought it not to me ; and having overslept himself , just as I had sealed up my letter , in comes the villain with the forgotten one , shaking his ears , and looking as if he himself did not believe the excuses he was going to make . I questioned him about it , and heard his pitiful pleas ; and though I never think it becomes a gentleman to treat people insolently who by their stations are humbled beneath his feet , yet could I not forbear to Lovelace and Mowbray him most cordially . And this detaining Mowbray -LRB- who was ready to set out to you before -RRB- while I write a few lines upon it , the fierce fellow , who is impatient to exchange the company of a dying Belton for that of a too-lively Lovelace , affixed a supplement of curses upon the staring fellow , that was larger than my book -- nor did I offer to take off the bear from such a mongrel , since , on this occasion , he deserved not of me the protection which every master owes to a good servant . He has not done cursing him yet ; for stalking about the court-yard with his boots on , -LRB- the poor fellow dressing his horse , and unable to get from him , -RRB- he is at him without mercy ; and I will heighten his impatience , -LRB- since being just under the window where I am writing , he will not let me attend to my pen , -RRB- by telling you how he fills my ears as well as the fellow 's , with his -- Hay , Sir !