seven o’clock in the
morning
The centre of the street door was perfectly covered with a great brass-plate , on which was engraved ` Mrs. Micawber 's Boarding Establishment for Young Ladies ' : but I never found that any young lady had ever been to school there ; or that any young lady ever came , or proposed to come ; or that the least preparation was ever made to receive any young lady . The only visitors I ever saw , or heard of , were creditors . THEY used to come at all hours , and some of them were quite ferocious . One dirty-faced man , I think he was a boot-maker , used to edge himself into the passage as early as seven o'clock in the morning , and call up the stairs to Mr. Micawber -- ` Come ! You ai n't out yet , you know . Pay us , will you ? Do n't hide , you know ; that 's mean .