ten o'clock
It was here that the august assembly was held every evening after supper , set about with rigid etiquette and ancient rite . Its windows looked on to the little square garden at the back , but were now tight shuttered and curtained ; and the room was a very model of comfort and warmth . Before the fire a square table was drawn up , set out with pudding and fruit , for it was here that the upper servants withdrew after the cold meat and beer of the servants ' hall , to be waited upon by the butler 's boy : and it was round this that the four sat in state -- housekeeper , butler , lady 's maid , and cook . It was already after ten o'clock ; and Mr. Parker was permitted to smoke a small cigar . They had discussed the weather , the sermon that Miss Baker had heard in the morning , and the prospects of a Dissolution ; and they had once more returned to the mysteries that were being enacted upstairs . They were getting accustomed to them now , and there was not a great deal to say , unless they repeated themselves , which they had no objection to do . Their attitude was one of tolerant skepticism , tempered by an agreeable tendency on the part of Miss Baker to become agitated after a certain point .