nine o'clock
Do n't let us have any waste , you know . ' ` I 'll do my best , ' said Sponge , determined to have it ; whereupon Mr. Jawleyford growled the word ` Port ' to the butler , who had been witnessing his master 's efforts to direct attention to the negus . Thwarted in his endeavour , Jawleyford 's headache became worse , and the ladies , seeing how things were going , beat a precipitate retreat , leaving our hero to his fate . ` I 'll leave a note on my writing-table when I go to bed , ' observed Jawleyford to Spigot , as the latter was retiring after depositing the bottle ; ` and tell Harry to start with it early in the morning , so as to get to Woodmansterne about breakfast -- nine o'clock , or so , at latest , ' added he . ` Yes , sir , ' replied Spigot , withdrawing with an air . Sponge then wanted to narrate the adventures of the day ; but , independently of Jawleyford 's natural indifference for hunting , he was too much out of humour at being done out of his wine to lend a willing ear ; and after sundry ` hums , ' ` indeeds , ' ` sos , ' & c. , Sponge thought he might as well think the run over to himself as trouble to put it into words , whereupon a long silence ensued , interrupted only by the tinkling of Jawleyford 's spoon against his glass , and the bumps of the decanter as Sponge helped himself to his wine . At length Jawleyford , having had as much negus as he wanted , excused himself from further attendence , under the plea of increasing illness , and retired to his study to concoct his letter to Jack .