4 in the afternoon
-LRB- Poor Fanny , who had hitherto supported all with the thoughts of Joseph 's company , trembled at that sound ; but , indeed , without reason , for none but the devil himself would have executed such a sentence on her . -RRB- `` Still , '' said the squire , `` I am ignorant of the crime -- the fact I mean . '' `` Why , there it is in peaper , '' answered the justice , showing him a deposition which , in the absence of his clerk , he had writ himself , of which we have with great difficulty procured an authentic copy ; and here it follows _ verbatim et literatim : _ -- _ The depusition of James Scout , layer , and Thomas Trotter , yeoman , taken before mee , one of his magesty 's justasses of the piece for Zumersetshire . _ `` These deponants saith , and first Thomas Trotter for himself saith , that on the -- of this instant October , being Sabbath-day , betwin the ours of 2 and 4 in the afternoon , he zeed Joseph Andrews and Francis Goodwill walk akross a certane felde belunging to layer Scout , and out of the path which ledes thru the said felde , and there he zede Joseph Andrews with a nife cut one hassel twig , of the value , as he believes , of three half-pence , or thereabouts ; and he saith that the said Francis Goodwill was likewise walking on the grass out of the said path in the said felde , and did receive and karry in her hand the said twig , and so was cumfarting , eading , and abatting to the said Joseph therein . And the said James Scout for himself says that he verily believes the said twig to be his own proper twig , '' & c. `` Jesu ! '' said the squire , `` would you commit two persons to Bridewell for a twig ? '' `` Yes , '' said the lawyer , `` and with great lenity too ; for if we had called it a young tree , they would have been both hanged . ''