twelve o’clock
When she found that the armes-liebes Madchen shrank from being wept over and caressed on the mournful return , she decided that the English had no feeling , and acquiesced in the routine of lessons and expeditions to classes . She was never unkind , but she did not try to be a companion ; and old Caroline was excellent in the attention she paid to the comforts of her master and his daughter , but had no love of children , and would not have encouraged familiarities , even if Dolores had not been too entirely a drawing-room child to offer them . The morning came , and everything went on as usual ; Dolores poured out the coffee , Mr. Mohun read his Times , Fraulein ate as usual , but afterwards he asked for a few minutes ' conversation with Fraulein . All that Dolores heard of the result of it was ` So , ' and then lessons went on until twelve o'clock , when it was the custom that the girl should have an hour 's recreation , which was , in any tolerable weather , spent in the gardens of the far west Crescent , where she lived . There she was nearly certain of meeting her one great friend , Maude Sefton , who was always sent out for her airing at the same time . They spied each other issuing from their doors , met , linked their arms , and entered together . Maude was a tall , rosy girl , with a great yellow bush down her back , half a year older than Dolores , and a great deal bigger .