five o'clock
On Saturday Mary was in dire disgrace . Nana had taken the children to a cinematograph show in Marlehouse . Miss Glover went with them in the bucket to visit a friend there . The Squire had affixed a paper to the outside of the study door saying that he was not to be disturbed till five o'clock , and it was a lovely afternoon . The sort of afternoon when late March holds all the promise of May , when early daffodils shine splendidly in sheltered corners , and late snowdrops in a country garden look quite large and solemn . When trodden grass has a sweet sharp smell , and all sorts of pretty things peep from the crannies of old Cotswold walls : those loose grey walls that are so infinitely various , so dear and friendly in their constant beautiful surprises . Mary saw the nursery party go , and stood and waved to them till they were out of sight , when a faint and distant summons to the cook-house door proved that Ger had begun to play the instant the bucket had turned out of the gates .