A quarter to two
Mr. Weller 's tops were newly cleaned , and his dress was arranged with peculiar care ; the mottled-faced gentleman wore at his button-hole a full-sized dahlia with several leaves ; and the coats of his two friends were adorned with nosegays of laurel and other evergreens . All three were habited in strict holiday costume ; that is to say , they were wrapped up to the chins , and wore as many clothes as possible , which is , and has been , a stage-coachman 's idea of full dress ever since stage-coaches were invented . Mr. Pell was waiting at the usual place of meeting at the appointed time ; even he wore a pair of gloves and a clean shirt , much frayed at the collar and wristbands by frequent washings . ` A quarter to two , ' said Pell , looking at the parlour clock . ` If we are with Mr. Flasher at a quarter past , we shall just hit the best time . ' ` What should you say to a drop o ' beer , gen ' l 'm ' n ? ' suggested the mottled-faced man .