ten o'clock in the morning
It was Wednesday , the day after the concert . Mr. Cartaret was standing before the fire in his study . He had just rung the bell and now he waited in an attitude of wisdom and of patience . It was only ten o'clock in the morning and wisdom and patience should not be required of any man at such an hour . But the Vicar had a disagreeable duty to perform . Whenever the Vicar had a disagreeable duty to perform he performed it as early as possible in the morning , so that none of its disagreeableness was lost . The whole day was poisoned by it .