half past seven
He loved him with all the heart of a weak , resigned , ill-used man . He loved with mad bursts of affection , with caresses and with all the bashful tenderness which was hidden in him , and which had never found an outlet , even at the early period of his married life , for his wife had always shown herself cold and reserved . Just then , however , Julie came to the door , with a pale face and glistening eyes , and she said in a voice which trembled with exasperation : `` It is half past seven , Monsieur . '' Parent gave an uneasy and resigned look at the clock and replied : `` Yes , it certainly is half past seven . '' `` Well , my dinner is quite ready , now . '' Seeing the storm which was coming , he tried to turn it aside . `` But did you not tell me when I came in that it would not be ready before eight ? ''