half past
six
`` Just look at it for a moment , Mrs. Wykoff . It is admitted , that , for the preservation of health , orderly habits are necessary ; and that food should be taken at regular intervals . Suppose that , at home , my habit is to eat breakfast at seven , dinner at one , and supper at six . To-day , such is the order of my meals ; but to-morrow , I leave home at half past six , and sit down , on an empty stomach to sew until eight , before I am called to breakfast . After that , I work until two o'clock , when I get my dinner ; and at seven drink tea . On the day after that , may be , on my arrival at another house where a day 's cutting and fitting is wanted , I find the breakfast awaiting me at seven ; this suits very well -- but not another mouthful of food passes my lips until after three o'clock , and may be , then , I have such an inward trembling and exhaustion , that I can not eat . On the day following , the order is again changed .