six o'clock in the morning
I 'm sure to be there somewhere between twelve and four . '' With which the young lord of creation retires to his cubicle , leaving Walker scratching his head , and regarding the five shillings in his hand in anything but a joyful mood . `` He ought to be put on the treadmill a week or two ; that 's what would do him good , '' observed the sage retainer to himself ; `` one thing at a time , and plenty of it . A dozen ash sticks before six o'clock in the morning ! What does he want with ash sticks ? Now his schoolmaster , if he 'd got one , would find them particular handy . '' With which little joke Walker goes off to agitate Appleby and Mason with the news of their early morning duties , and to put the servants ' hall in a flutter by announcing for the fiftieth time that summer that either he or the young master would have to leave Wildtree Towers , because , positively -- well , they would understand -- a man 's respect for himself demanded that he should draw the line somewhere , and that was just what Master Percy would not allow him to do .