eight o'clock
Can you give us a help ? '' After a lengthened debate among us , the only apparent chance for me was , that the lesson should be written out in English letters , so that when I repeated it , I should appear to know my lesson . This , Tyrrel good-naturedly effected for me . At eight o'clock , then , the next morning , in due routine , I approached the master in his desk , under the same superstitious awe as poor Friday , when he cowered before the august Crusoe . I would not have failed in my performance for worlds , and now entered the desk resolved on acquitting myself to perfection . My ardour was not slightly damped when , on uttering a few words , the master , with a frown , demanded why I had not commenced where the previous boy had left off . `` I thought , sir , that I was to begin at the beginning . ''