two in the afternoon
It seemed that the notion was not wholly foundationless . Michael had been practising all the morning of a dark November day , had eaten a couple of sandwiches standing in front of his fire , and observed with some secret satisfaction that the fog which had lifted for an hour had come down on the town again in earnest , and that it was only reasonable to dismiss the possibility of going out , and spend the afternoon as he had spent the morning . But he permitted himself a few minutes ' relaxation as he smoked his cigarette , and sat down by the window , looking out , in Lucretian mood , on to the very dispiriting conditions that prevailed in the street . Though it was still only between one and two in the afternoon , the densest gloom prevailed , so that it was impossible to see the outlines even of the houses across the street , and the only evidence that he was not in some desert spot lay in the fact of a few twinkling lights , looking incredibly remote , from the windows opposite and the gas-lamps below . Traffic seemed to be at a standstill ; the accustomed roar from Piccadilly was dumb , and he looked out on to a silent and vapour-swathed world . This isolation from all his fellows and from the chances of being disturbed , it may be added , gave him a sense of extreme satisfaction . He wanted his piano , but no intrusive presence .