half past seven
He glanced at the newspaper , went and looked out of the window , and then sat down on the sofa again , when the door opened , and the boy came in , washed , brushed and smiling , and Parent took him up in his arms and kissed him passionately ; then he tossed him into the air , and held him up to the ceiling , but soon sat down again , as he was tired with all his efforts , and taking George onto his knee , he made him ride a cock-horse , and the child laughed and clapped his hands , and shouted with pleasure , as his father did also , for he laughed until his big stomach shook , for it amused him almost more than it did the child . He loved him with all the heart of a weak , resigned , ill-used man . He loved with mad bursts of affection , with caresses and with all the bashful tenderness which was hidden in him , and which had never found an outlet , even at the early period of his married life , for his wife had always shown herself cold and reserved . Just then , however , Julie came to the door , with a pale face and glistening eyes , and she said in a voice which trembled with exasperation : `` It is half past seven , Monsieur . '' Parent gave an uneasy and resigned look at the clock and replied : `` Yes , it certainly is half past seven . '' `` Well , my dinner is quite ready , now . '' Seeing the storm which was coming , he tried to turn it aside .