six o’clock
At these times , Mr. Micawber would be transported with grief and mortification , even to the length -LRB- as I was once made aware by a scream from his wife -RRB- of making motions at himself with a razor ; but within half-an-hour afterwards , he would polish up his shoes with extraordinary pains , and go out , humming a tune with a greater air of gentility than ever . Mrs. Micawber was quite as elastic . I have known her to be thrown into fainting fits by the king 's taxes at three o'clock , and to eat lamb chops , breaded , and drink warm ale -LRB- paid for with two tea-spoons that had gone to the pawnbroker 's -RRB- at four . On one occasion , when an execution had just been put in , coming home through some chance as early as six o'clock , I saw her lying -LRB- of course with a twin -RRB- under the grate in a swoon , with her hair all torn about her face ; but I never knew her more cheerful than she was , that very same night , over a veal cutlet before the kitchen fire , telling me stories about her papa and mama , and the company they used to keep . In this house , and with this family , I passed my leisure time . My own exclusive breakfast of a penny loaf and a pennyworth of milk , I provided myself . I kept another small loaf , and a modicum of cheese , on a particular shelf of a particular cupboard , to make my supper on when I came back at night .