half past
nine
Timothy Sweeny , J. P. , as suited a man of portly figure and civic dignity , was accustomed to lie long in his bed of a morning . On weekdays he rose , in a bad temper , at nine o'clock . On Sundays , when he washed and shaved , he was half an hour later and his temper was worse . An apprentice took down the shutters of the shop on weekdays at half past nine . By that time Sweeny , having breakfasted , sworn at his wife and abused his children , was ready to enter upon the duties of his calling . On the morning after the thunderstorm he was wakened at the outrageous hour of half past seven by the rattle of a shower of pebbles against his window . The room he slept in looked out on the back-yard through which his Sunday customers were accustomed to make their way to the bar .