eight o’clock
Mr. Bob Sawyer , completely quelled by the decision of the old gentleman 's manner , took the same course . Mr. Ben Allen 's hat rolled down the steps immediately afterwards , and Mr. Ben Allen 's body followed it directly . The whole party went silent and supperless to bed ; and Mr. Pickwick thought , just before he fell asleep , that if he had known Mr. Winkle , senior , had been quite so much of a man of business , it was extremely probable he might never have waited upon him , on such an errand . The morning which broke upon Mr. Pickwick 's sight at eight o'clock , was not at all calculated to elevate his spirits , or to lessen the depression which the unlooked-for result of his embassy inspired . The sky was dark and gloomy , the air was damp and raw , the streets were wet and sloppy . The smoke hung sluggishly above the chimney-tops as if it lacked the courage to rise , and the rain came slowly and doggedly down , as if it had not even the spirit to pour . A game-cock in the stableyard , deprived of every spark of his accustomed animation , balanced himself dismally on one leg in a corner ; a donkey , moping with drooping head under the narrow roof of an outhouse , appeared from his meditative and miserable countenance to be contemplating suicide .