two in the afternoon
He has fixed upon the first day of the week for the exercise of his hospitality , because some of his guests could not enjoy it on any other , for reasons that I need not explain . I was civilly received in a plain , yet decent habitation , which opened backwards into a very pleasant garden , kept in excellent order ; and , indeed , I saw none of the outward signs of authorship , either in the house or the landlord , who is one of those few writers of the age that stand upon their own foundation , without patronage , and above dependence . If there was nothing characteristic in the entertainer , the company made ample amends for his want of singularity . At two in the afternoon , I found myself one of ten messmates seated at table ; and , I question , if the whole kingdom could produce such another assemblage of originals . Among their peculiarities , I do not mention those of dress , which may be purely accidental . What struck me were oddities originally produced by affectation , and afterwards confirmed by habit . One of them wore spectacles at dinner , and another his hat flapped ; though -LRB- as Ivy told me -RRB- the first was noted for having a seaman 's eye , when a bailiff was in the wind ; and the other was never known to labour under any weakness or defect of vision , except about five years ago , when he was complimented with a couple of black eyes by a player , with whom he had quarrelled in his drink .