twelve o'clock
Now , Sue , working steadily away at her machine a little farther down the room , had none of these sensations . Provided that Sue could earn enough money to keep Giles going , that was all she asked of life . She was as matter-of-fact as a young girl could be ; and as to pining for what she had not got , it never once entered her head . At twelve o'clock there was a break of half-an-hour . The machinists were then turned out of the building . It did not matter what sort of day it was , whether the sun shone with its summer intensity , or whether the snow fell in thick flakes -- whatever the condition of the outside world , out all the working women had to go . None could skulk behind ; all had to seek the open air .