twelve o'clock
His lips were perfectly parched ; his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth ; there was a horrid weight pressing on his aching eyes , and upon his throbbing head . His pillow seemed undulating beneath him , and everything swimming around him ; but when , to crown the whole , he was roused from a momentary nap by the insupportable -- the loathed importunities of Mrs. Squallop , that he would just sit up and partake of three thick rounds of hot buttered toast , and a great basin of smoking tea , which would do him _ so _ much good , and settle his stomach -- at all events , if he 'd only have a thimbleful of gin in it -- poor Titmouse was fairly overcome ! ... He lay in bed all that day , during which he underwent very severe sufferings ; and it was not till towards night that he began to have anything like a distinct recollection of the events of the evening which he had spent with Mr. Gammon ; who , by the way , had sent one of the clerks , during the afternoon , to inquire after him . He did not get out of bed on the Tuesday till past twelve o'clock , when , in a very rickety condition , he made his appearance at the shop of Messrs. Tag-rag and Co. ; on approaching which he felt a sudden faintness , arising from mingled apprehension and disgust . `` What are you doing here , sir ? -- You 're no longer in my employment , sir , '' exclaimed Tag-rag , attempting to speak calmly , as he hurried down the shop , white with rage , to meet Titmouse , and planted himself right in the way of his languid and pallid shopman . `` Sir ! ''