ten o'clock
Of such sordid penury as I then witnessed I had read , but never supposed I should be compelled to witness , much less to share . Notwithstanding the closeness of this hole , it was excessively cold . There was not a soul there to welcome me , the petty officers being all away on dockyard duty . It might have been ten o'clock when I was first ushered into this region of darkness , of chill and evil odours . I remained with my surtout coat on , sitting on my chest with my hands clasped before me , stiff with cold , and melancholy almost to tears . How much then I panted for the breeze that blew over the heathy common where I had lately wantoned , leaped , and laughed ! As I there sat , I fell into a deep and dream-like reverie .