two o’clock
He used to say , `` He was welly stawed wi ' eating , for there were three or four houses where nowt would serve 'em but he must share in their breakfast ; '' and by the time he had done his last breakfast , he came to some other friend who was beginning dinner ; but come what might in the way of temptation , Tom was always sober , civil , and smiling ; and , as Miss Jenkyns used to say , it was a lesson in patience , that she doubted not would call out that precious quality in some minds , where , but for Thomas , it might have lain dormant and undiscovered . Patience was certainly very dormant in Miss Jenkyns 's mind . She was always expecting letters , and always drumming on the table till the post-woman had called or gone past . On Christmas Day and Good Friday she drummed from breakfast till church , from church-time till two o'clock -- unless when the fire wanted stirring , when she invariably knocked down the fire-irons , and scolded Miss Matty for it . But equally certain was the hearty welcome and the good dinner for Thomas ; Miss Jenkyns standing over him like a bold dragoon , questioning him as to his children -- what they were doing -- what school they went to ; upbraiding him if another was likely to make its appearance , but sending even the little babies the shilling and the mince-pie which was her gift to all the children , with half-a-crown in addition for both father and mother . The post was not half of so much consequence to dear Miss Matty ; but not for the world would she have diminished Thomas 's welcome and his dole , though I could see that she felt rather shy over the ceremony , which had been regarded by Miss Jenkyns as a glorious opportunity for giving advice and benefiting her fellow-creatures . Miss Matty would steal the money all in a lump into his hand , as if she were ashamed of herself .