five o’clock
To be sure , the living-rooms were at the back , looking on to a pleasant garden ; the front windows only belonged to kitchens and housekeepers ' rooms , and pantries , and in one of them Mr Mulliner was reported to sit . Indeed , looking askance , we often saw the back of a head covered with hair powder , which also extended itself over his coat-collar down to his very waist ; and this imposing back was always engaged in reading the _ St James 's Chronicle _ , opened wide , which , in some degree , accounted for the length of time the said newspaper was in reaching us -- equal subscribers with Mrs Jamieson , though , in right of her honourableness , she always had the reading of it first . This very Tuesday , the delay in forwarding the last number had been particularly aggravating ; just when both Miss Pole and Miss Matty , the former more especially , had been wanting to see it , in order to coach up the Court news ready for the evening 's interview with aristocracy . Miss Pole told us she had absolutely taken time by the forelock , and been dressed by five o'clock , in order to be ready if the _ St James 's Chronicle _ should come in at the last moment -- the very _ St James 's Chronicle _ which the powdered head was tranquilly and composedly reading as we passed the accustomed window this evening . `` The impudence of the man ! '' said Miss Pole , in a low indignant whisper . `` I should like to ask him whether his mistress pays her quarter-share for his exclusive use . ''