five
o'clock
On arriving in the cellar , he took off his jacket and put on a large apron , that completely covered him ; and from that time until five o'clock he worked with the other boys : bottling , packing , storing the bottles away in the bins , or taking them down as required . He learned , from the foreman , something of the localities from which the wine came , their value and prices ; but had not begun to distinguish them by taste , or bouquet . Mr. Bale , the foreman said , had given strict orders that he was not to begin tasting , at present . Three days before Christmas , one of the clerks brought him down word that Mr. Bale wished to see him in the office , at five o'clock . During the three , months he had scarcely spoken to his uncle . The latter had nodded to him , whenever he came into the cellar ; and had regularly said , `` Well , Robert , how are you getting on ? '' To which he had , as regularly , replied , `` Very well , uncle . ''