eleven o’clock
Regular as clockwork -- breakfast at nine -- dress and tittivate a little -- down to the Sir Somebody 's Head -- a glass of ale and the paper -- come back again , and take daughters out for a walk -- dinner at three -- glass of grog and pipe -- nap -- tea -- little walk -- Sir Somebody 's Head again -- capital house -- delightful evenings . There were Mr. Harris , the law-stationer , and Mr. Jennings , the robe-maker -LRB- two jolly young fellows like himself -RRB- , and Jones , the barrister 's clerk -- rum fellow that Jones -- capital company -- full of anecdote ! -- and there they sat every night till just ten minutes before twelve , drinking their brandy-and-water , and smoking their pipes , and telling stories , and enjoying themselves with a kind of solemn joviality particularly edifying . Sometimes Jones would propose a half-price visit to Drury Lane or Covent Garden , to see two acts of a five-act play , and a new farce , perhaps , or a ballet , on which occasions the whole four of them went together : none of your hurrying and nonsense , but having their brandy-and-water first , comfortably , and ordering a steak and some oysters for their supper against they came back , and then walking coolly into the pit , when the ` rush ' had gone in , as all sensible people do , and did when Mr. Dounce was a young man , except when the celebrated Master Betty was at the height of his popularity , and then , sir , -- then -- Mr. Dounce perfectly well remembered getting a holiday from business ; and going to the pit doors at eleven o'clock in the forenoon , and waiting there , till six in the afternoon , with some sandwiches in a pocket-handkerchief and some wine in a phial ; and fainting after all , with the heat and fatigue , before the play began ; in which situation he was lifted out of the pit , into one of the dress boxes , sir , by five of the finest women of that day , sir , who compassionated his situation and administered restoratives , and sent a black servant , six foot high , in blue and silver livery , next morning with their compliments , and to know how he found himself , sir -- by G - ! Between the acts Mr. Dounce and Mr. Harris , and Mr. Jennings , used to stand up , and look round the house , and Jones -- knowing fellow that Jones -- knew everybody -- pointed out the fashionable and celebrated Lady So-and-So in the boxes , at the mention of whose name Mr. Dounce , after brushing up his hair , and adjusting his neckerchief , would inspect the aforesaid Lady So-and-So through an immense glass , and remark , either , that she was a ` fine woman -- very fine woman , indeed , ' or that ` there might be a little more of her , eh , Jones ? ' Just as the case might happen to be . When the dancing began , John Dounce and the other old boys were particularly anxious to see what was going forward on the stage , and Jones -- wicked dog that Jones -- whispered little critical remarks into the ears of John Dounce , which John Dounce retailed to Mr. Harris and Mr. Harris to Mr. Jennings ; and then they all four laughed , until the tears ran down out of their eyes .