one o'clock
However , the first thing her new employer said to her was , ` I shall not be here after lunch , Miss Wharton , so shall be glad if you will do this work for me before I go , and the rest of the day will be at your disposal , and next week I am taking a holiday , so I shall not require your services until Tuesday week . ' There had not been any arrangement made about Easter holidays , and Stella had quite made up her mind that she would only have the Bank Holidays , and was rather surprised . However , she did not imagine it was anything but a coincidence , or that her afternoon , like the Easter holidays , had been arranged by Mr. James Jones ; which perhaps was just as well , or the perverse girl might not have enjoyed it as much . As it was , she went off at one o'clock , having got through her work , shaking hands cordially with old Mr. Murchison , whom she liked very much ; and , having had lunch , arrived at the City school just in time . The porter in his gorgeous City livery was so impressed by Stella 's beauty and dignified carriage that he took her for some important person , and showed her up to one of the front seats , which were reserved for patrons and patronesses , and she found herself sitting next a very pleasant woman , who took a great interest in education , and told Stella what a high opinion she had of this school and its staff ; and a little farther up was Mrs. Montague Jones , talking in a friendly way to a lady whom Stella had met once and knew to be a society woman , but had not expected to meet here . The proceedings were rather lengthy . There was the usual school concert , which it is difficult to say who dislike most , performers or audience ; then came the play , and Stella was converted on the spot .