minutes
before one o'clock
I find it difficult to explain the anxiety which I felt , as the , morning wore on , that dinner should be punctually upon the table at half past twelve . But I now understand perfectly , as I did not once , the old philosophy : `` Let us eat and drink , for to-morrow we die . '' It was ironing-day , and our dinners were apt to be late upon ironing-days . I concluded that , if the soup were punctual , and not too hot , I could leave myself ten or perhaps fifteen unoccupied minutes before one o'clock . It strikes me as curious now , the gravity with which this thought underran the fever and pain and dread of the morning . I fell to reading my hymn-book about twelve o'clock , and when Alison called me to dinner I did not remember to consult my watch . The soup was good , though hot .