two
o’clock
` We have revivifying and vigorous principles within ourselves , ' observed the major . ` Shall we drink a bitter afore dinner , colonel ? ' The colonel assenting to this proposal with great alacrity , Major Pawkins proposed an adjournment to a neighbouring bar-room , which , as he observed , was ` only in the next block . ' He then referred Martin to Mrs Pawkins for all particulars connected with the rate of board and lodging , and informed him that he would have the pleasure of seeing that lady at dinner , which would soon be ready , as the dinner hour was two o'clock , and it only wanted a quarter now . This reminded him that if the bitter were to be taken at all , there was no time to lose ; so he walked off without more ado , and left them to follow if they thought proper . When the major rose from his rocking-chair before the stove , and so disturbed the hot air and balmy whiff of soup which fanned their brows , the odour of stale tobacco became so decidedly prevalent as to leave no doubt of its proceeding mainly from that gentleman 's attire . Indeed , as Martin walked behind him to the bar-room , he could not help thinking that the great square major , in his listlessness and langour , looked very much like a stale weed himself ; such as might be hoed out of the public garden , with great advantage to the decent growth of that preserve , and tossed on some congenial dunghill .