midday
Paul went out , blushing deeply , not having spoken a word . The day was very long . All morning the work-people were coming to speak to Mr. Pappleworth . Paul was writing or learning to make up parcels , ready for the midday post . At one o'clock , or , rather , at a quarter to one , Mr. Pappleworth disappeared to catch his train : he lived in the suburbs . At one o'clock , Paul , feeling very lost , took his dinner-basket down into the stockroom in the basement , that had the long table on trestles , and ate his meal hurriedly , alone in that cellar of gloom and desolation . Then he went out of doors .