five
minutes past six
Ten out of his thirty-five years of service had been passed there , and he stifled a sigh as he looked at the neat array of drawers and pigeon-holes , the window overlooking the bridge and harbour , and the stationer 's almanac which hung over the fireplace . The japanned letter-rack and the gum-bottle on the small mantelpiece were old friends . The day 's work completed , he walked home in sober thought . It was a pleasant afternoon in May , but he was too preoccupied to pay any heed to the weather , and , after informing a man who stopped him to tell him that he had lost a wife , six children , and a right leg , that it was just five minutes past six , resumed his way with a hazy idea of having been useful to a fellow-creature . He brightened a little as he left the bustle of the town behind , and from sheer force of habit glanced at the trim front-gardens as he passed . The cloud lifted still more as he reached his own garden and mentally compared his flowers with those he had just passed . His daughter was out , and tea for one was laid in the front room .