six o'clock in the evening
Next day he drank his Port , as usual , and the wheels of the Aurora went smoothly . The landlady was thus justified in averring that something had been done by somebody , albeit unable to point to anything specific . Women , who are almost as deeply bound to habit as old gentlemen , possess more of its spiritual element , and are warned by dreams , omens , creepings of the flesh , unwonted chills , suicide of china , and other shadowing signs , when a break is to be anticipated , or , has occurred . The landlady of the Aurora tavern was visited by none of these , and with that beautiful trust which habit gives , and which boastful love or vainer earthly qualities would fail in effecting , she ordered that the pint of Madeira should stand from six o'clock in the evening till seven -- a small monument of confidence in him who was at one instant the ` poor old dear ' ; at another , the ` naughty old gad-about ' ; further , the ` faithless old-good-for-nothing ' ; and again , the ` blessed pet ' of the landlady 's parlour , alternately and indiscriminately apostrophized by herself , her sister , and daughter . On the last day of the month a step was heard coming up the long alley which led from the riotous scrambling street to the plentiful cheerful heart of the Aurora . The landlady knew the step . She checked the natural flutterings of her ribbons , toned down the strong simper that was on her lips , rose , pushed aside her daughter , and , as the step approached , curtsied composedly .