midday
Arrayed in her Sunday best she left the house half an hour later . A glance over her shoulder revealed her husband huddled up in a chair in the dirty kitchen , gazing straight before him at the empty grate . He made a hearty breakfast at a neighbouring coffee-shop , and , returning home , lit the fire and sat before it , smoking . The return of the four children from school , soon after midday , found him still wrestling with the difficulties of the situation . His announcement that their mother was out and that there would be no dinner was received at first in stupefied silence . Then Jemmy , opening his mouth to its widest extent , acted as conductor to an all-too-willing chorus . The noise was unbearable , and Mr. Porter said so .