noon
When she had given vent to her satisfaction , she returned to the parlour ; where the locksmith , stimulated by quietness and Toby , had become talkative , and was disposed to take a cheerful review of the occurrences of the day . But Mrs Varden , whose practical religion -LRB- as is not uncommon -RRB- was usually of the retrospective order , cut him short by declaiming on the sinfulness of such junketings , and holding that it was high time to go to bed . To bed therefore she withdrew , with an aspect as grim and gloomy as that of the Maypole 's own state couch ; and to bed the rest of the establishment soon afterwards repaired . Twilight had given place to night some hours , and it was high noon in those quarters of the town in which ` the world ' condescended to dwell -- the world being then , as now , of very limited dimensions and easily lodged -- when Mr Chester reclined upon a sofa in his dressing-room in the Temple , entertaining himself with a book . He was dressing , as it seemed , by easy stages , and having performed half the journey was taking a long rest . Completely attired as to his legs and feet in the trimmest fashion of the day , he had yet the remainder of his toilet to perform . The coat was stretched , like a refined scarecrow , on its separate horse ; the waistcoat was displayed to the best advantage ; the various ornamental articles of dress were severally set out in most alluring order ; and yet he lay dangling his legs between the sofa and the ground , as intent upon his book as if there were nothing but bed before him .