twelve o'clock
At such times he would gladly have changed beings with the idlest and emptiest of his fellow-workmen ; their life might be ignoble , but it had abundance of enjoyment . To him there came no joy , nor ever would . Only when he lay in his last sleep would it truly be said of him that he rested . At twelve o'clock he rose ; he had no longing for sleep , but in five hours the new week would have begun , and he must face it with what bodily strength he might . Before entering his bedroom , which was next to the parlour , he went to the house-door and opened it quietly . A soft rain was falling . Leaving the door ajar , he stepped out into the street and looked up to the top windows .