About ten o’clock
`` Work , work ! '' reiterated the inward voice . `` I may work , it will do no good , '' I growled ; but nevertheless I drew out a packet of letters and commenced my task -- task thankless and bitter as that of the Israelite crawling over the sun-baked fields of Egypt in search of straw and stubble wherewith to accomplish his tale of bricks . About ten o'clock I heard Mr. Crimsworth 's gig turn into the yard , and in a minute or two he entered the counting-house . It was his custom to glance his eye at Steighton and myself , to hang up his mackintosh , stand a minute with his back to the fire , and then walk out . Today he did not deviate from his usual habits ; the only difference was that when he looked at me , his brow , instead of being merely hard , was surly ; his eye , instead of being cold , was fierce . He studied me a minute or two longer than usual , but went out in silence .