three o'clock in
the afternoon
I waited about until it was noon , and I went upon ` Change , and I saw fluey men sitting there under the bills about shipping , whom I took to be great merchants , though I could n't understand why they should all be out of spirits . When Herbert came , we went and had lunch at a celebrated house which I then quite venerated , but now believe to have been the most abject superstition in Europe , and where I could not help noticing , even then , that there was much more gravy on the tablecloths and knives and waiters ' clothes , than in the steaks . This collation disposed of at a moderate price -LRB- considering the grease , which was not charged for -RRB- , we went back to Barnard 's Inn and got my little portmanteau , and then took coach for Hammersmith . We arrived there at two or three o'clock in the afternoon , and had very little way to walk to Mr. Pocket 's house . Lifting the latch of a gate , we passed direct into a little garden overlooking the river , where Mr. Pocket 's children were playing about . And unless I deceive myself on a point where my interests or prepossessions are certainly not concerned , I saw that Mr. and Mrs. Pocket 's children were not growing up or being brought up , but were tumbling up . Mrs. Pocket was sitting on a garden chair under a tree , reading , with her legs upon another garden chair ; and Mrs. Pocket 's two nurse-maids were looking about them while the children played .